preparation
UK[ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən]US[ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən]
n
The action or process of making something ready for use or consideration.
n
A substance that has been specially made or mixed, such as a medicine, cosmetic, or food product.
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
par
ation
pre
before
par
make ready
ation
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'preparation' has a clear and logical lineage from Latin. It stems from the verb praeparare, which is a compound of the prefix prae- (meaning "before") and the verb parare (meaning "to make ready, to procure"). The literal sense is thus "to make ready in advance." This meaning was carried directly into Middle English via Old French. The noun form 'preparation' emerged to denote the action or result of this process, a semantic evolution that retains the core logic of its components: an action (making ready) done beforehand.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before) + par (make ready) + ation (noun suffix)
- pre: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "before" or "in advance".
- par: From Latin parare (to make ready, to prepare), representing the core action.
- ation: Latin-derived suffix -ation, used to form nouns indicating an action or process.
Examples
Careful preparation is essential for a successful experiment.
The chef applied a special preparation of herbs to the meat.
The team began their preparation for the upcoming tournament months in advance.