-ATION

a suffix forming nouns of action, and often equivalent to the verbal substantive in -ing. it sometimes has the further meanings of state, and that which results from the action. many of these nouns have verbs in -ate; as, alliterate -ation, narrate -ation; many are derived through the french; as, alteration, visitation; and many are formed on verbs ending in the greek formative -ize (·fr. -ise); as, civilization, demoralization.