menage
UK[meˈnɑːʒ]US[meɪˈnɑːʒ]
n
The members of a household, especially when considered as a unit.
n
The management of a household; housekeeping.
Morpheme Breakdown
men
age
men
to stay, to dwell
age
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'menage' entered English from Old French 'mesnee', meaning household or family. Its deeper origin lies in the Latin verb 'manere', meaning to stay, remain, or dwell. The semantic journey is direct: from the concept of dwelling in a place, to the people who dwell there collectively, forming a household. The suffix '-age' solidifies this state or collective unit. Over time, the meaning expanded from the people themselves to also encompass the activity of managing that domestic unit, reflecting the word's intrinsic link to the domestic sphere.
Analysis
Structure: men (to stay, to dwell) + age (noun suffix)
'men' is from Old French 'mesnee', ultimately from Latin 'mansio' (a staying, dwelling), from the verb 'manere' (to stay, remain). 'age' is a noun-forming suffix of French origin, indicating a state, condition, or result.
Examples
The estate was home to a large and bustling menage of family and servants.
She ran the household with such skill that her menage was the envy of her neighbors.
The novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex menage of a Victorian country house.