spacesuit
UK[ˈspeɪs.suːt]US[ˈspeɪs.suːt]
n
a special protective suit that covers the whole body and has a supply of air, allowing a person to survive and move in outer space.
Morpheme Breakdown
space
suit
space
outer space
suit
garment
Etymology
the word 'spacesuit' is a modern english compound noun, a transparent combination of two existing words. 'space', with its latin root 'spatium', evolved from a general concept of area or interval to specifically denote the expanse beyond earth's atmosphere. 'suit', tracing back to latin 'sequi' (to follow), developed from the idea of things that follow or go together to refer to a set of garments. the compound logically and literally describes a specialized garment designed for the environment of space, created in the mid-20th century alongside human spaceflight. it exemplifies how english readily forms new terms by combining familiar morphemes to meet technological needs.
Analysis
Structure: space (outer space) + suit (garment)
space: from old french 'espace', from latin 'spatium' (room, area, interval, space). in this compound, it denotes the environment of outer space.
suit: from anglo-norman french 'siute', from a feminine past participle of a vulgar latin verb meaning 'to follow', related to latin 'sequi'. it evolved to mean a set of garments or a uniform.
Examples
the astronaut carefully checked her spacesuit for any leaks before the spacewalk.
early spacesuits were bulky and restricted movement, but modern designs are much more flexible.
without a functioning spacesuit, exposure to the vacuum of space would be fatal.