-ment
(Latin: a suffix; result of, means of, act of; place of action)
The suffix -meant is a final word element derived through Middle English and French from the Latin suffix -ment(um), originally used to form agent and action nouns from verbs, now used to form nouns and denominative verbs in several related senses:
- "An action, process, or skill" denoted by the combining root: rearmament, tournament, management.
- "A result, object, or agent of an action" named by the joining root: entombment, enthrallment, agreement.
- "The means or instrument of an action": implement, medicament, reinforcement.
- "The place of an action" named by the first root: battlement, ambushment, settlement.
- "A state or condition" specified by the first root: bewilderment, predicament, bereavement.
The verb combinations show no change in basic form: cement, compliment, lament.
Principal parts: -menting, -mented, -mented.
Related forms: -mentum (singular); -menta, -menti, -ments (plurals).
augment
Etymology: From about 1400, from Old French augmenter, from Late Latin augmentare "to increase", from Latin augmentum, "an increase" from augere, "to increase, to make big, to enlarge, to enrich"; Greek auxo "increase".
commandment
commencement
commitment
1. The act or an instance of committing; especially, the act of referring a legislative bill to committee.
2. An official consignment, as to a prison or mental health facility.
3. A court order authorizing consignment to a prison.
4. A pledge to do something pledged; especially, an engagement by contract involving financial obligation.
5. The state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action or to another person or persons; such as, a profound commitment to the family.
complement
compliment
comportment
Personal bearing, demeanor, deportment; behavior, outward conduct, course of action. Formerly also in the plural form, proceedings, conduct.
concealment
1. The action of keeping something secret.
2. A covering that serves to conceal or to shelter something.
3. A condition of being concealed or hidden.
4. Keeping out of sight and from being seen, found, observed, or discovered.
confinement
consignment
containment
convergement
The action or fact of converging; drawing together.
deferment
1. The act of putting off, or an instance of delaying, until a future time.
2. Officially sanctioned postponement of compulsory military service.
denouncement
department
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