The process of forming, shaping, or creating something; the act of bringing something into existence or giving it form.
From Late Latin 'formatio' (a shaping), derived from 'formare' (to form, shape). The suffix '-ation' denotes the process or result. Related to 'formation' but with emphasis on the dynamic process.
This is essentially a fancier, more formal cousin of 'formation'—it suggests not just the result but the deliberate, crafted process of shaping something, which is why architects and artists might prefer it.
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