liquidation
UK[ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃn]US[ˌlɪkwɪˈdeɪʃn]
n
The process of closing a business and selling its assets to pay its debts.
n
The act of selling something, usually at a lower price, to get money.
n
The act of killing someone.
Morpheme Breakdown
liquid
ate
ion
liquid
clear, fluid
ate
verb suffix
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'liquidation' originates from the Latin verb 'liquidare', meaning 'to melt, make clear or liquid'. This verb itself derives from 'liquidus', meaning 'fluid, clear'. The financial sense, which is now primary, developed from the idea of clarifying or settling accounts, of making a company's financial situation "clear" by converting assets into cash (a liquid form) to settle debts. The darker meaning of "killing" is a metaphorical extension from the mid-20th century, suggesting the "wiping out" or "clearing away" of a person.
Analysis
Structure: liquid (clear, fluid) + ate (verb suffix) + ion (noun suffix)
- liquid: From Latin 'liquidus' (fluid, clear). In this word, it carries the sense of making clear or settling accounts.
- ate: A verb-forming suffix from Latin '-atus', indicating an action or process.
- ion: A noun-forming suffix from Latin '-ionem', indicating an action, process, or its result.
Examples
The company went into liquidation after failing to repay its loans.
The store is having a liquidation sale to clear all its remaining stock.
The spy was ordered to carry out the liquidation of the informant.