Situation
/ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/noun
The way something is placed, arranged, or the state of affairs at a given time.
Did you know?Situation comes from Latin *situare*, from *situs* meaning “a laying down” or “position,” so the word’s earliest power was about *placement* — where something is set in the world.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
situs
“a laying down; position; site”
Late Latin
Latin
situare
“to place; to position”
Old French
Old French
situacion
“position; location; condition”
14th Century
English
situacioun
“the act of placing; the way something is placed”
Modern English
English
situation
“the state of affairs or position of something at a particular time”