prepositions
|pre-po-si-tions|
🇺🇸
/ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃənz/
🇬🇧
/ˌprɛpəˈzɪʃ(ə)nz/
(preposition)
linking word
Etymology
'preposition' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praepositio', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'positio' (from 'ponere') meant 'a placing'.
'preposition' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'praepositio' and passed into Old French as 'preposition', then entered Middle English as 'prepositioun' before becoming the modern English word 'preposition'.
Initially, it meant 'a placing before' (a literal placing in front), but over time it evolved into its current grammatical meaning of 'a word placed before a noun or pronoun to indicate relation'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a word that typically precedes a noun or pronoun to show its relationship to another word (for example: in, on, at, from, to).
Many languages use prepositions to indicate location, time, or direction.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the grammatical category or class consisting of such words.
In the grammar book, the chapter on prepositions explains their functions and types.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/08 02:53