Supination

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of rotating the forearm so that the palm faces upward is defined anatomically, while also describing the outward roll of the foot during walking and a technique used by athletes for optimal positioning in sports
2. This term encompasses the anatomical rotation of the forearm with the palm up, the outward movement of the foot during typical walking, and a strategic method employed by athletes for foot placement
3. The anatomical rotation that positions the palm upward, the motion of the foot rolling outward while walking, and a strategic technique used by athletes for precise foot positioning are all described by this term

Etymology: "Supination" is built from "supine," meaning lying on the back with the face upward, plus the suffix "-ation," which turns a verb or adjective into a noun of action or state. Literally, then, it names the act or condition of lying face up, and the anatomical sense of turning the forearm palm upward grew out of that bodily image. The suffix has a long path. It descends from Proto-Italic "-tiōn," reached Latin as "-tiō" and "-ātiō," passed through Old French "-ation," and entered Middle English as "-acioun" before settling into the modern English "-ation." So the ending is a worn-down relative of the Latin noun-forming suffix, carried into English by way of French.