condition

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English

Etymology

From Middle English condicioun, from Old French condicion (French condition), from Latin condicio. Unetymological change in spelling due to confusion with conditio.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: kəndĭshʹən, IPA(key): /kənˈdɪʃən/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪʃən

Noun

condition (countable and uncountable, plural conditions)

  1. A state or quality.
    National reports on the condition of public education are dismal.
    The condition of man can be classified as civilized or uncivilized.
    1. A particular state of being.
      Hypnosis is a peculiar condition of the nervous system.
      Steps were taken to ameliorate the condition of slavery.
      Security is defined as the condition of not being threatened.
      Aging is a condition over which we are powerless.
    2. (obsolete) The situation of a person or persons, particularly their social and/or economic class, rank.
      A man of his condition has no place to make requests.
      • 1749, Henry Fielding, “Containing Various Matters”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume VI, London: A Millar, , →OCLC, page 142:
        [T]his Zeal was now inflamed by Lady Bellaſton, who had told her the preceding Evening, that ſhe was well ſatiſfied from the Conduct of Sophia, and from her Carriage to his Lordſhip, that all Delays would be dangerous, and that the only Way to ſucceed, was to preſs the Match forward with ſuch Rapidity, that the young Lady ſhould have no Time to reflect, and be obliged to conſent while ſhe ſcarce knew what ſhe did. In which Manner, ſhe ſaid, one half of the Marriages among People of Condition were brought about.
    3. The health status of a medical patient.
      Synonym: fettle
      My aunt couldn’t walk up the stairs in her condition.
      1. A certain abnormal state of health; a malady or sickness.
  2. A requirement.
    Environmental protection is a condition for sustainability.
    What other planets might have the right conditions for life?
    The union had a dispute over sick time and other conditions of employment.
  3. A logical clause or phrase that a conditional statement uses. The phrase can either be true or false.
  4. (law) A clause in a contract or agreement indicating that a certain contingency may modify the principal obligation in some way.

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

may include some hyponyms too

Translations

Verb

condition (third-person singular simple present conditions, present participle conditioning, simple past and past participle conditioned)

  1. To subject to the process of acclimation.
    I became conditioned to the absence of seasons in San Diego.
  2. To subject to different conditions, especially as an exercise.
    They were conditioning their shins in their karate class.
  3. To make dependent on a condition to be fulfilled; to make conditional on.
  4. (transitive) To place conditions or limitations upon.
    • 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Golden Year”, in Poems. , 4th edition, volume II, London: Edward Moxon, , published 1846, →OCLC, page 89:
      Yet seas that daily gain upon the shore / Have ebb and flow conditioning their march, / And slow and sure comes up the golden year.
  5. To shape the behaviour of someone to do something.
    The children were conditioned to speak up if they had any disagreements.
  6. (transitive) To treat (the hair) with hair conditioner.
  7. (transitive) To contract; to stipulate; to agree.
  8. (transitive) To test or assay, as silk (to ascertain the proportion of moisture it contains).
    • 1868, Once a Week:
      divers parcel of silk conditioned or assayed
  9. (US, colleges, transitive) To put under conditions; to require to pass a new examination or to make up a specified study, as a condition of remaining in one's class or in college.
    to condition a student who has failed in some branch of study
  10. To impose upon an object those relations or conditions without which knowledge and thought are alleged to be impossible.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

French

Etymology

From Middle French condition, from Old French condicion, borrowed from Latin condiciōnem.

Pronunciation

Noun

condition f (plural conditions)

  1. term, condition
    une condition sine qua nonan imperative
    une condition suffisantea sufficient condition
    une condition nécessairea necessary condition
    à condition que(please add an English translation of this usage example)
    à condition de(please add an English translation of this usage example)
  2. condition, state
    en bonne conditionin good condition
    une excellente condition physique(please add an English translation of this usage example)
  3. social status, walk of life
    Le couple se contentait de soirées entre amis de conditions diverses.The couple was content with partying with friends from all walks of life.
  4. (in the plural) conditions
    conditions de vieliving conditions
    conditions de travailworking conditions

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Turkish: kondisyon

Further reading

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French condicion, from Latin condicio.

Noun

condition f (plural conditions)

  1. condition (state, quality)

Descendants