Preposition definition
The definition of a preposition is a word or phrase that connects a noun or pronoun to a verb or adjective in a sentence.
An example of preposition is the word "with" in the following; "I'm going with her."
noun
Any construction of similar function (Ex.: in back of, equivalent to behind)
noun
(grammar) Any of a closed class of non-inflecting words typically employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word: a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word.
noun
To place in a location before some other event occurs.
It is important to preposition the material before turning on the machine.
verb
To position or place in position in advance.
Artillery that was prepositioned at strategic points in the desert.
verb
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A word or phrase placed typically before a substantive and indicating the relation of that substantive to a verb, an adjective, or another substantive, as English at, by, with, from, and in regard to.
noun
In some languages, a relation or function word, as English in, by, for, with, to, etc., that connects a lexical word, usually a noun or pronoun, or a syntactic construction, to another element of the sentence, as to a verb (Ex.: he went to the store), to a noun (Ex.: the sound of loud music), or to an adjective (Ex.: good for her)
noun
Origin of preposition
- Middle English preposicioun from Old French preposicion from Latin praepositiō praepositiōn- a putting before, preposition (translation of Greek prothesis) from praepositus past participle of praepōnere to put in front prae- pre- pōnere to put apo- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Latin praepositio, from praeponere (to place before); prae (before) + ponere (to put, place); compare French préposition. (See position, and compare provost.) So called because it is usually placed before the word with which it is phrased, as in a bridge of iron, he comes from town, it is good for food, he escaped by running.
From Wiktionary
- From pre- + position
From Wiktionary