preposition
/ˌpɹɛpəˈzɪʃən/ noun
Forms prepositions prepositioning prepositioned præposition pre-position
- noun (grammar, strict sense) Any of a class of non-inflecting words and multiword terms 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.
- noun (grammar, broad sense) An adposition.
- noun (obsolete) A proposition; an exposition; a discourse.
Etymology
From Middle English preposicioun, from Old French preposicion, from Latin praepositio, praepositionem, from praepono (“to place before”), equivalent to pre- + position. Compare French préposition. So called because it is placed before the word with which it is phrased, as in a bridge of iron, he comes from town, it is good for food, he escaped by running.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A word employed to connect a 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; --so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running.
- noun A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [Obs.]
Etymology [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “preposition”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details