Wordages

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. An amount of words used in a specific context or piece of writing; the choice of words and their arrangement in a given discourse; a particular wording or verbal expression in communication
  2. A specific set of phrases or vocabulary used in a text or spoken language; the arrangement and selection of words for clarity or impact; a distinctive style of expression within a certain context
  3. The language and terms employed in a document or conversation; the manner in which words are structured to convey meaning; a unique selection of diction suited to a particular audience or purpose

Etymology: The term in question appears to be a plural form derived from a less common or archaic root, likely related to the word "wordage." "Wordage" itself emerged in English in the early 20th century, primarily in journalistic or editorial contexts, to denote the quantity or amount of words used in a piece of writing. It combines the base "word" with the suffix "-age," which often forms nouns indicating a collective quantity or related concept. Tracing "wordage" back, "word" is an Old English inheritance from "word," meaning a single unit of language. The suffix "-age" comes from Old French "-age," itself from Latin "-aticum," used to form nouns expressing a state or condition. The shift to "wordage" as a measure of words resembles other formations like "mileage" (measure of miles) or "postage" (cost or amount related to posts). The plural form "wordages" would then naturally indicate multiple instances or types of word counts or measures, though it is quite rare and somewhat informal. It may appear in discussions contrasting different textual lengths or styles, emphasizing varied word quantities. The pluralization follows standard English morphology, simply adding "-s" to a noun ending in "-age." Overall, this formation reflects English’s flexible ability to create abstract nouns from concrete bases and to pluralize them when discussing multiple conceptual quantities. While not widespread, such a term fits neatly within the patterns of English word formation and usage in contexts concerned with text and language measurement.

Synonyms: wordings, phrases, expressions, texts, statements