pavement
UK[ˈpeɪvmənt]US[ˈpeɪvmənt]
n
a hard surface of a road or path, especially one made of flat stones or concrete.
n
the hard surface of a road, considered as the area where vehicles drive.
Morpheme Breakdown
pave
ment
pave
to cover
ment
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'pavement' originates from the latin verb 'pavire', which meant 'to beat, ram, or tread down'. this action describes the process of compacting earth or materials to create a firm, level surface. through old french 'pavement', the term entered english, specifically referring to a surface that has been prepared and hardened. the suffix '-ment', indicating the result of an action, combines with 'pave' to logically form a noun meaning 'the hardened surface created by the act of paving'.
Analysis
Structure: pave (to cover) + ment (noun suffix)
pave (from old french 'paver', meaning 'to pave', from latin 'pavire', meaning 'to beat, ram, tread down'); ment (from latin '-mentum', a suffix forming nouns that denote the result or means of an action).
Examples
she tripped and fell on the uneven pavement.
the city is repairing the pavement along the main street.
pedestrians should use the pavement, not the road.