[con.di.tion] n [ME condicion, fr. MF, fr. L condicion-, condicio terms of agreement, condition, fr. condicere to agree, fr. com- + dicere to say, determine--more at diction] (14c) 1 a: a premise upon which the fulfillment of an agreement depends: stipulation b obs: covenant c: a provision making the effect of a legal instrument contingent upon an uncertain event; also: the event itself
2: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else: prerequisite: as a: an environmental requirement "available oxygen is an essential ~ for animal life" b: the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence 3 a: a restricting or modifying factor: qualification b: an unsatisfactory academic grade that may be raised by doing additional work
4. a: a state of being b: social status: rank c: a usu. defective state of health "a serious heart ~" d: a state of physical fitness or readiness for use "the car was in good ~" "exercising to get into ~" e pl: attendant circumstances
5. a obs: temper of mind b obs: trait c pl, archaic: manners, ways
[2]condition vb con.di.tioned ; con.di.tion.ing vi (15c) archaic: to make stipulations ~ vt 1: to agree by stipulating
2: to make conditional 3 a: to put into a proper state for work or use b: air-condition
4: to give a grade of condition to
5. a: to adapt, modify, or mold so as to conform to an environing culture b: to modify so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another -- con.di.tion.able adj -- con.di.tion.er n