revolution
UK[ˌrevəˈluːʃn]US[ˌrevəˈluːʃn]
n
A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system.
n
A dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it.
n
An instance of revolving; a single complete turn around a central point.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
volut
ion
re
again, back
volut
turn, roll
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word "revolution" originates from the Late Latin revolutio(n-), meaning "a revolving," which itself derives from the Latin verb revolvere ("to roll back"). The core root volvere (to turn, roll) is traceable to the Proto-Indo-European root wel-, meaning "to turn, roll." Initially used in astronomy to describe the cyclical "turning" of celestial bodies, the term's meaning underwent a profound metaphorical shift in the political sphere. The logic of a complete "turn" or cycle was applied to the idea of a society or government being overturned and returning to a (perceived) starting point, thus giving rise to its modern abstract meanings of radical, transformative change.
Analysis
Structure: re (again, back) + volut (turn, roll) + ion (noun suffix)
- re: Latin prefix meaning "again, back, anew."
- volut: From Latin volvere (to roll, to turn), a direct substring of the past participle stem volut-.
- ion: Latin-derived noun suffix indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
The Industrial Revolution fundamentally altered economies and societies.
The invention of the smartphone caused a revolution in personal communication.
The Earth completes one revolution around the Sun every 365 days.