Where does “attenuation” come from?

Attenuation comes from Middle English attenuacioun, from Latin attenuatio, a noun formation using the Latin suffix -tio attached to the root ad- meaning "to," derived from Latin ad and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ád and h₂éd.

attenuation (English): A gradual diminishing of strength; A reduction in...

Definitions

  1. A gradual diminishing of strength; A reduction in...

Ancestry of “attenuation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishattenuacioun
2LatinattenuatioThe act of diminishing or lessening; attenuation
3Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
4Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “attenuation

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-