comminution

The story

1. Latin · derived from-tiō
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*mey-“little, small”
3. Latin · derived fromcomminuō“to break or crumble into small pieces; to crush, pulverize”
4. Latin · derived fromcomminūtiō“breaking into pieces, crumbling, shattering; crushing, pulverizing”
5. English todaycomminution

From Latin comminūtiō (“breaking into pieces, crumbling, shattering; crushing, pulverizing”), from Latin comminuō (“to break or crumble into small pieces; to crush, pulverize”) (from com- (prefix indicating completeness) + minuō (“to make smaller; to diminish, lessen”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“little, small”)) + Latin -tiō (suffix forming a noun relating to some action or the result of an action); equivalent to comminute + -ion.

Words from the same roots