modification

The story

1. Latin · derived frommodificātiō“a measuring”
2. Middle French · derived frommodification
3. Middle English · inherited frommodificatioune
4. English todaymodification

From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication.

First known use, by meaning

• 15th–19th c. The act of assessing and prescribing a payment, penalty, price, valuation, etc.
• 17th–19th c. The form of existence belonging to a particular object, entity etc.; a mode of being.
• from 17th c. The change undergone by a word when used in a construction.
• from 17th c. The result of modifying something; a new or changed form.
• from 18th c. The act of making a change to something while keeping its essential character intact; an alteration or adjustment.
• from 19th c. A change to an organism as a result of its environment that is not transmissible to offspring.