mission
UK: ˈmɪʃən | US: ˈmɪʃən
n. a specific task or duty assigned to a person or group
n. the vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially to spread faith
n. an important goal or purpose
mission = miss<send> + ion<noun suffix>
- miss: From Latin mittere (to send), retained in words like "emit" or "transmit."
- ion: A noun-forming suffix indicating action or condition (e.g., "action," "decision").
Etymology Origin:
The word "mission" originated in the 16th century from Latin missionem (a sending), derived from mittere. Initially tied to religious contexts (e.g., sending missionaries), it later expanded to secular tasks, reflecting the idea of "being sent to accomplish something." The core logic—sending → purpose—remains consistent across meanings.
The diplomat completed her peace mission successfully.
The church supports missions in remote areas.
His mission is to improve education access.
The spy’s secret mission was declassified decades later.
NASA’s Mars mission aims to search for signs of life.