record-breaking

The word "record-breaking" is a modern English compound adjective formed from three distinct elements. The noun "record" originates from the Latin 'recordari', meaning to remember, which evolved to signify a documented fact or achievement. The verb "break" has Germanic roots, with its Old English ancestor 'brecan' carrying the sense of violating a boundary or limit. The suffix "-ing" transforms the verbal action into an adjectival form. The compound's logic is transparent: it literally describes the action of "breaking" or surpassing an existing "record," with the "-ing" suffix attributing that quality to a noun, such as a "record-breaking performance." This construction exemplifies the productive nature of English in forming descriptive terms for unprecedented achievements in sports, science, and other competitive fields.

Structure: record (account) + break (surpass) + ing (adjective suffix) - record: From Anglo-French/Latin 'recordari' (to remember, call to mind). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning an official documented account of an achievement. - break: From Old English 'brecan' (to separate, shatter, violate). In this compound, it functions as a verb meaning to surpass or go beyond a limit. - ing: From Old English '-ende', '-inge', a suffix used to form present participles and adjectives from verbs, indicating the action or quality of the verb.