process
UK[ˈprəʊses]US[ˈprɑːses]
n
A series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.
n
A natural series of changes or events.
v
To perform a series of operations on something to change or preserve it.
v
To deal with information or documents in an official way.
Morpheme Breakdown
pro
cess
pro
forward
cess
go
Etymology
The word "process" entered English in the 14th century from Old French proces, which itself originated from Latin processus, meaning "advance, progress, a going forward". This Latin term is the past participle of procedere, a compound of pro- ("forward") and cedere ("to go"). The core logic of moving forward step-by-step is preserved from its Latin origins. Over time, the meaning evolved from the literal act of advancing to the figurative sequence of actions or the method of advancement itself, capturing both physical and procedural progress.
Analysis
Structure: pro (forward) + cess (go)
- pro: A Latin prefix meaning "forward, forth, in front of".
- cess: From the Latin root cedere (to go, to yield), appearing here in its past participial stem form cess-.
Examples
The manufacturing process ensures the product's high quality.
Learning a language is a gradual process that requires patience.
The computer will process your application and send a confirmation email.