preposition

English

/ˌpɹɛpəˈzɪʃən/, /ˈpɹiːpəˌzɪʃən/

noun
Definitions
  • (grammar) Any of a class of non-inflecting words typically employed to connect a following noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word: a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word.
  • (obsolete) A proposition; an exposition; a discourse.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English preposicioun derived from Old French preposicion derived from Latin praepositio, praepositionem.

Origin

Latin

praepositio, praepositionem

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms