note-taking

The compound 'note-taking' is a transparent combination of two English words, forming a noun that describes the action of 'taking notes.' The first element, 'note,' originates from the Latin nota, meaning a mark or sign, which evolved to signify a brief written record. The second element, 'taking,' derives from the Old English verb tacan, meaning to grasp or seize, here used in its gerund form to denote the process or activity. Thus, the term literally and logically means "the action of seizing or capturing information in the form of written marks," perfectly describing the modern practice of recording key points from a source.

Structure: note (record) + taking (action) - note: From Latin nota (a mark, sign, note), via Old French. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a brief written record. - taking: From Old English tacan (to take, seize), via the present participle form. In this compound, it functions as a verbal noun indicating the action of the verb.