-faction

fraction faction English Etymology en fr -faction, from en la -factiō. This is the ending that arises when forming action nouns using la -tiō (equivalent to en -tion) from compound verbs ending in la faciō -faciō to make, to do, which carry a causative meaning. For example, la liqueō<t:to be liquid> faciō 1 > la liquefaciō to make (something) liquid > la liquefactiō > en liquefaction. The suffix was later applied to other Latin stems where no Latin verb in la -faciō existed (e.g. en lubrifaction) and, eventually, even more freely (but see usage notes). Compare en -ification and en -ication. Suffix en suffixes The act of creating something, or en more broadly any process involving the specified thing. en lith- -i- lithifaction stone the compaction and cementation of sediment into rock en aer- -i- aerifaction air aeration, hyperinflation of the lungs Usage notes Of the English words ending in -faction that are currently in use, almost all were formed as such in Latin. The creation of new English words using -faction was common in Early Modern English, but is now unusual and largely restricted to highly specialised terminology. The equivalent suffix en -ification -(i)fication is far more commonly used. Derived terms en en more benefaction dissatisfaction labefaction liquefaction olfaction petrifaction putrefaction rarefaction satisfaction self-satisfaction stupefaction torrefaction tepefaction tumefaction See also -poeia -poiesis -urgy Further reading en 2-syllable words noun-forming suffixes