Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “characterization” come from?

Characterization comes from Middle English -acioun, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω, from χαρακτήρ meaning an impressed mark or distinctive quality, from χαράσσω meaning to scratch or engrave, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer-.

characterization (English): The act or process of characterizing

Definitions

  1. The act or process of characterizing

Ancestry of “characterization”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-ationAn action or process; The result of an action or...
2Middle English-aciounForms nouns denoting an action, act, or doing,...
3Old French-ation-ation
4Latin-ātiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “characterization”

  • recharacterization
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →