ˌprepəˈzishən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English preposicioun, from Latin praeposition-, praepositio (translation of Greek prothesis ), from praepositus (past participle of praeponere to put in front, put in charge of, from prae- pre- + ponere to put, place) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at position
1. : a linguistic form that combines with a noun, pronoun, or noun equivalent to form a phrase that typically has an adverbial, adjectival, or substantival relation to some other word (as of in “they are proud of him”, with in “the man with a red face”, or outside in “it came from outside the house”)
2.
[influenced in meaning by pre- & position ]
: the act of placing before or the state of being placed before : position before