vacation
Meaning
a period of time spent away from home or business in travel or recreation.
to take or spend a vacation.
Structure
Usage
we are planning a beach vacation for the summer.
he decided to vacation in the mountains this year.
the school's summer vacation lasts for two months.
Etymology
the word vacation originates from the latin verb 'vacare', which means 'to be empty, free, or unoccupied'. this concept of being free from duties evolved through anglo-french and middle english to denote a period of exemption or freedom from work, study, or regular activity. the suffix '-ation' was added to form a noun describing the state or condition of being free. thus, the literal idea of 'emptiness' or 'freedom' transformed into the modern meaning of a scheduled break for leisure or travel.
Analysis
vac is from latin 'vacare' meaning 'to be empty, free, or at leisure'. ation is a noun-forming suffix of latin origin indicating an action or resulting state.