affixation
UK: ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən | US: ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən
n. the process of adding an affix (prefix, suffix, or infix) to a word to change its meaning or grammatical function
n. the result of such a process; a word formed by affixation
The word "affixation" derives from Latin affixus (past participle of affigere, meaning "to fasten to"), combining ad- (to) + figere (to fix or attach). The suffix -ation (from Latin -atio) forms nouns denoting an action or process. Thus, "affixation" literally means "the process of attaching to," reflecting its linguistic use for adding morphemes to words.
Affixation is a common morphological process in English, as seen in words like "unhappiness."
The linguist studied the rules governing affixation in Swahili.
Prefixation and suffixation are two primary types of affixation.
Some languages rely more heavily on affixation than others to convey grammatical relationships.
The term "affixation" itself exemplifies the process it describes.