See Also: ation(dictionary)
ation(dictionary)

ation (iou)



-ation suffix.
[(Old French -aci(o)un, mod. -ation, from) Latin -atio(n-) suffix combining -(T)ION with verb stems in -a(t)-.]
Forming nouns denoting verbal action or an instance of it, or a resulting state or thing. Most such English words, as creation, moderation, saturation, etc., have corresp. verbs in -ATE3, but some do not, as capitation, constellation, duration, etc. Others are formed directly on verbs in -IZE, as civilization, organization, etc. The remainder correspond to a verb without suffix, derived from French, as alteration, causation, formation, vexation, etc.; the suffix was thence applied to words of various origin, as botheration, flirtation, starvation, etc. Cf. -FICATION.