Word of the Day

: March 1, 2011

acceptation

noun ak-sep-TAY-shun

What It Means

1 : acceptance; especially : favorable reception or approval

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

acceptation in Context

I may not be an "athlete," in the common acceptation of that word, but I do enjoy my daily workouts at the gym.

"'I first met Anup in 2003 when he walked into the Art Gallery 100 in Longview, where I am a member, carrying about a dozen paintings to be submitted for acceptation into the gallery,' The Gallery Director Patsy Irons said." -- From an article in Palestine Herald-Press (Texas), November 28, 2010

Did You Know?

"Acceptation" is older than its synonym "acceptance"; it first appeared in print in the 15th century, whereas "acceptance" took until 1574. 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."