securities
UK[sɪˈkjʊərɪtiz]US[səˈkjʊrɪtiz]
n
Financial instruments that represent an ownership position in a publicly-traded corporation (stock), a creditor relationship with a governmental body or a corporation (bond), or rights to ownership as represented by an option.
Morpheme Breakdown
secur
ity
s
secur
free from care
ity
noun suffix
s
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'securities' originates from the Latin adjective 'securus', meaning "free from care" or "safe", itself a compound of 'se-' (apart, without) and 'cura' (care). The abstract noun 'security' was formed in Middle English from Latin 'securitas', denoting the state of being safe or protected. In the financial context, which emerged in the 17th century, the term was applied to property or documents pledged as a guarantee for a loan, providing "security" to the lender. The plural form 'securities' now specifically refers to these tradable financial instruments, such as stocks and bonds, which represent a secured or guaranteed financial interest.
Analysis
Structure: secur (free from care) + ity (noun suffix) + s (plural suffix)
- secur: From Latin 'securus', meaning "free from care, safe, secure". It functions as the core root conveying the idea of safety and certainty.
- ity: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin ('-itas'), used to form abstract nouns indicating a state or condition.
- s: A plural inflectional suffix of Old English origin, used to indicate more than one.
Examples
He invested a large portion of his savings in government securities.
The company is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The value of her portfolio of securities fluctuates with the market.