preposition

Meaning

Noun

1. (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.
2. (broadly) An adposition.
3. (obsolete) A proposition; an exposition; a discourse.

Verb

Alternative spelling of pre-position.

Synonyms

𐐹𐑉𐐯𐐹𐐲𐑆𐐮𐑇𐐲𐑌

intension

intent

intention

lead

postposition

premise

prepositional case

advanced

purpose

scope

topping

conjunctive word

copulative element

function word

presupposition

Translations

préposition

preposición

Präposition

preposizione

voorzetsel

preposição

Verhältniswort

preposició

πρόθεση

praepositio

daçek

preposicion

حرف جر

Vorwort

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌpɹɛpəˈzɪʃən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: preposicioun

Cognate with French: préposition

In summary

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.