ablation

The story

1. Late Latinablātiō
2. Middle Englishalbacioun
3. English todayablation

From Late Middle English ablacioun (“removal”), from Late Latin ablātiō (“a taking away”), from auferō (“to take away, carry off, withdraw, remove”) + -tiō (“-tion”, nominal suffix). Doublet of ablatio. Compare French ablation. By surface analysis, ablat(e) + -ion.

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1350 to 1470. A carrying or taking away; removal.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. The surgical removal of a body part, an organ, or especially a tumor; the removal of an organ function; amputation.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. The removal of a component of an AI system.
• Mid 20ᵗʰ century. The removal of a glacier by melting and evaporation; the lowering of a land surface by any of several means, as in wind erosion or mass wasting.
• Mid 20ᵗʰ century. The depletion of surface snow and ice from a spacecraft or meteorite through melting and evaporation caused by aerodynamic heating.