Formation
/fɔːrˈmeɪʃən/noun
The act or process of forming something; the arrangement or structure of something formed.
Did you know?Formation comes from Latin *formare*, “to shape,” from *forma*, and its deeper ancestral root is tied to the idea of a mold or visible pattern — the same ancient impulse behind naming, crafting, and making order out of chaos.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰer-
“to hold, support, or keep firm”
Latin
Latin
forma
“shape, form, beauty, figure”
Latin
Latin
formāre
“to shape, fashion, mold”
Late Latin
Latin
formationem
“a shaping, forming”
Middle French
Old French
formation
“formation, act of forming”
14th Century
English
formation
“the act of forming or taking shape”
Modern English
English
formation
“the process of forming or the arrangement of parts into a shape or structure”