Constructions

/kənˈstrʌkʃənz/ noun

Definition

The process of building structures or the resulting buildings themselves, or in linguistics, particular arrangements of words and phrases.

Etymology

From Latin 'constructio' meaning a putting together, from 'construere' (to heap up, build). The linguistic sense developed in the 19th century to describe how words are arranged to create meaning.

Kelly Says

The word 'construction' reveals how language and architecture share deep metaphors—we 'build' arguments, 'construct' sentences, and talk about the 'structure' of stories. Both involve taking separate elements and combining them according to rules to create something stable and meaningful.

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