valuation
Meaning
The process of deciding the value of something, or the value decided upon.
Structure
Usage
The company commissioned an independent valuation of its assets.
The valuation of the antique vase was much higher than expected.
His valuation of the situation proved to be accurate.
Etymology
The word 'valuation' has its roots in the Latin verb valere, meaning 'to be strong, to be of worth'. This core concept of strength and worth passed into Late Latin as valutare, a verb meaning 'to be worth'. Entering English via Old French, the stem 'valu-' combined with the productive noun-forming suffix '-ation', which denotes an action or process. Thus, the literal construction 'the action of determining worth' logically evolved into the modern, abstract financial and general meaning of an estimated monetary worth or appraisal.
Analysis
'valu' originates from Latin valere (to be strong, be worth). 'ation' is a Latin-derived suffix forming nouns indicating an action or its result.