rationing
UK[ˈræʃənɪŋ]US[ˈræʃənɪŋ, ˈreɪʃənɪŋ]
n
The controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services, typically by a government during a time of shortage or war.
verb (gerund)
The act of limiting the supply of something to a fixed amount.
Morpheme Breakdown
ration
ing
ration
fixed allowance
ing
noun/gerund suffix
Etymology
The word 'rationing' is built upon the noun and verb 'ration,' which entered English in the 18th century from French. The French ration derives from Latin rationem, the accusative form of ratio, meaning "a reckoning, calculation, or reason." This Latin term itself originates from the past participle stem ratus of the verb reri, "to reckon, think," which is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root \re-, "to reason, count." The core semantic journey is from the abstract concept of "calculation" to a "calculated or reasoned portion," and finally to the modern practice of controlled allocation. The suffix -ing then nominalizes the action, transforming the process of allocating fixed portions into the term for the system itself, a meaning that became concretized during the resource scarcities of the World Wars.
Analysis
Structure: ration (fixed allowance) + ing (noun/gerund suffix)
- ration: From Latin ration- (stem of ratio) meaning "reckoning, calculation, reason." In English, it functions as the base noun/verb meaning a fixed allowance.
- ing: From Old English -ing, -ung, a suffix forming nouns from verbs, indicating an action or its result. In this word, it forms a gerund/noun from the verb 'to ration.'
Examples
Wartime rationing of food and fuel was necessary to ensure equitable distribution.
The government is considering rationing water due to the severe drought.
Despite the end of the crisis, some forms of rationing remained in place for months.