redaction
UK[rɪˈdækʃn]US[rɪˈdækʃn]
n
the process of removing or obscuring sensitive information from a document before publication.
n
a version of a text, such as a legal document or manuscript, from which such information has been removed.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
act
ion
re
again
act
do
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'redaction' has a layered history, ultimately tracing back to the latin verb 'redigere', meaning "to bring back, to reduce to a certain state". this verb is composed of 're-' (back, again) and 'agere' (to drive, to do). through french influence, the past participle stem 'redact-' emerged, giving rise to the english verb 'redact'. the noun 'redaction' was formed by adding the '-ion' suffix to this stem, denoting the action or process. while the modern sense of editing or censoring text is specific, it retains the core etymological logic of "driving back" or "reducing" the text to a fit state for publication by removing elements.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + act (do) + ion (noun suffix)
re: from latin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
act: from latin 'actus' (a doing, a driving), from 'agere' (to do, to drive). functions as the core root meaning "to do".
ion: from latin '-ionem', a suffix forming nouns indicating an action or process.
Examples
the government released the report after extensive redaction of classified details.
the lawyer reviewed the redaction to ensure no privileged information was accidentally revealed.
a careful redaction of the interview transcript was necessary to protect the witness's identity.