table
UK: ˈteɪb(ə)l | US: ˈteɪb(ə)l
n. a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs
n. a set of facts or figures systematically displayed
vt. to present formally for discussion (e.g., "table a motion")
table = tab<board> + le<noun suffix>
- tab (from Latin tabula meaning "board, plank, or flat surface")
- le (a common noun-forming suffix in Old French, derived from Latin -ula)
Etymology Origin:
The word "table" traces back to Latin tabula, which referred to a flat board or slab used for writing, gaming, or dining. It entered Old French as table, retaining the core meaning of a flat surface. The suffix -le solidified its noun form in English. Over time, "table" expanded semantically to include furniture, data displays, and even parliamentary procedures (e.g., "tabling" a proposal).
She placed the books on the wooden table.
The report includes a table of statistical results.
The committee decided to table the discussion until next week.
The children gathered around the table for dinner.
The scientist analyzed the data in the frequency table.