acceptation

noun

ac·​cep·​ta·​tion ˌak-ˌsep-ˈtā-shən 

1

: acceptance

especially : favorable reception or approval

2

: a generally accepted meaning of a word or understanding of a concept

Did you know?

Acceptation is older than its synonym acceptance; it first appeared in print in the 15th century, whereas acceptance makes a 16th-century appearance. Grammarian H. W. Fowler insisted in 1926 that acceptation and acceptance were not actually synonymous (he preferred to reserve acceptation for the "accepted meaning" use), but the earliest meaning of acceptation was indeed acceptance. Both words descend from the Anglo-French word accepter ("to accept"), but acceptation took an extra step. Anglo-French added the -ation ending, which was changed to form acceptacioun in Middle English. (English embraced the present-day -ation ending later.) Acceptance simply comes from accepter plus the Anglo-French -ance.

Examples of acceptation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The use of chainsaws to cut down trees prior to intentionally burning a stand, known as prescribed fire, is the major acceptation. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acceptacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French acceptation, borrowed from Late Latin acceptātiōn-, acceptātiō, from Latin acceptāre "to accept" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

acceptation

noun

ac·​cep·​ta·​tion ˌak-ˌsep-ˈtā-shən 

: the generally understood meaning of a word or expression