I. _mənt sometimes ˌment noun suffix
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -mentum, from -men, n. suffix + -tum (akin to -tus, past. participle ending); akin to Greek -ma, n. suffix — more at -ed
1.
a. : concrete result, object, or agent of a (specified) action
entangle ment
incre ment
attach ment
frag ment
b. : concrete means or instrument of a (specified) action
comple ment
nutri ment
orna ment
2.
a. : action, process, art, or act of a (specified) kind
encircle ment
recruit ment
state ment
govern ment
develop ment
b. : place or object of a (specified) action
escarp ment
canton ment
3. : state or condition
amaze ment
embroil ment
fulfill ment
involve ment
II. when no syllable-increasing suffix (as -ed or -ing) follows, ˌment also _mənt; when a syllable-increasing suffix follows, ˌment sometimes _mənt
— as final syllable in verbs corresponding to nouns of identical spelling ending in -ment
compli ment
imple ment