entry
presentation
/ˌprɛzənˈteɪʃən/Formal act of showing, giving, or delivering something
From Latin present (before).
from Medieval Latin praesentationem (nominative praesentatio ) "a placing before," noun of action
+1 more sourcefrom Old French presentacion (13c.) and directly
from Old French presentacion (13c.) and directly
from Old French presentation (French présentation)
Word Ancestry
from Medieval Latin praesentationem (nominative praesentatio ) "a placing before," noun of action
+1 more sourcefrom Old French presentacion (13c.) and directly
from Old French presentacion (13c.) and directly
from Old French presentation (French présentation)
A presentation begins with a simple little idea: put something in front of someone. That’s the whole drama hiding inside Latin praesentare, which literally meant “to place before,” like carrying a tray into a Roman dining room or setting an argument down in front of a judge. The family resemblance is obvious once you notice it: present, presence, representation, and even demonstration all revolve around making something visible, undeniable, impossible to ignore. By the late 1300s, English had presentacioun for ceremonious giving, and later the word stretched to speeches, lectures, stage performances, and now those nervous PowerPoint slides we all pretend not to fear. It’s a wonderfully social word: one person puts something forward, another person receives it, and the whole point is that it happens right there, in full view.
The Story
A presentation begins with a simple little idea: put something in front of someone. That’s the whole drama hiding inside Latin praesentare, which literally meant “to place before,” like carrying a tray into a Roman dining room or setting an argument down in front of a judge. The family resemblance is obvious once you notice it: present, presence, representation, and even demonstration all revolve around making something visible, undeniable, impossible to ignore. By the late 1300s, English had presentacioun for ceremonious giving, and later the word stretched to speeches, lectures, stage performances, and now those nervous PowerPoint slides we all pretend not to fear. It’s a wonderfully social word: one person puts something forward, another person receives it, and the whole point is that it happens right there, in full view.
Kin & Kindred
From 'present'·before, at hand, in view
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From '-ation'·action or result noun suffix
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Free Dictionary
Urban Dictionary