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fix·a·tion

(fĭk-sāshən)

1. The act or process of fixing or fixating: the fixation of nitrogen by bacteria.

2. An obsessive preoccupation.

3. Psychology A strong attachment to a person or thing, manifested in an immature or pathological way.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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