screening
UK[ˈskriːnɪŋ]US[ˈskriːnɪŋ]
n
The act of showing a film, television program, etc. to an audience.
n
The testing or examination of a group of people to find those with a particular disease or characteristic.
n
The process of checking information or people in order to decide whether they are suitable or safe.
Morpheme Breakdown
screen
ing
screen
to shield, to examine
ing
noun-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'screen' entered English in the 14th century from Old French, originally denoting a physical partition or shield used for protection or concealment. The core concept of selective filtering—blocking some things while allowing others to pass—logically extended from physical barriers to metaphorical processes of examination and selection. The addition of the noun-forming suffix '-ing' transforms the verb 'to screen' into the gerund 'screening', encapsulating the entire action or process. Thus, modern uses like medical screening, film screenings, and security screening all retain the fundamental idea of a systematic evaluation that separates one category from another, much like a physical screen filters light or view.
Analysis
Structure: screen (to shield, to examine) + ing (noun-forming suffix)
- screen: Origin: Middle English 'scren', from Old North French 'escren', likely of Germanic origin. Role: Base word/root.
- ing: Origin: Old English '-ing', '-ung', a suffix forming nouns from verbs. Role: Derivational suffix indicating an action, process, or result.
Examples
The documentary will have its premiere screening at the film festival next month.
Regular health screenings are important for early detection of potential issues.
All applicants must undergo a rigorous background screening before employment.