nonrepresentationality
|non-rep-re-sen-ta-tion-al-i-ty|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˌrɛprɪzɛnˌteɪʃəˈnælɪti/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˌrɛprɪzɛnˌteɪʃəˈnælɪti/
absence of depiction/representation
Etymology
'nonrepresentationality' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'non-' + 'representational' + the nominalizing suffix '-ity'. 'representational' ultimately comes from Latin 'repraesentare' (via Old French 'representer'), where the elements 're-' meant 'again' and 'praesentare' meant 'to present'.
'represent' entered English from Old French 'representer', derived from Latin 'repraesentare'; the adjective 'representational' developed by adding the suffixes '-ation' and '-al', and then the abstract noun-forming suffix '-ity' produced 'representationality'; adding the negative prefix 'non-' yielded 'nonrepresentationality'.
Initially Latin roots meant 'to present again' or 'to show'; over time the English formations came to denote the act or quality of depicting or standing for something, and with the prefix 'non-' the modern word denotes the absence of such depiction or representation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being nonrepresentational; not depicting or representing external objects, people, or recognizable subjects (often used of abstract art).
The nonrepresentationality of the painting forces viewers to focus on color and form rather than subject matter.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the condition or state of lacking representation (e.g., in politics or institutions) — the absence or insufficiency of represented voices or interests.
Scholars criticized the nonrepresentationality of certain communities within the policymaking process.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/20 07:37