Succession

Definition

Succession generally refers to the action or process of inheriting a title, office, property, or the like, following a particular order or sequence.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /səkˈsɛʃən/
• Respelling: suhk-SESH-uhn (with "suhk" incorporating a subtle "k" sound as in "luck," "SESH" as in "session," and "uhn" as in "fun")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /səkˈsɛʃən/
• Respelling: suhk-SESH-uhn (similar to American English, with "suhk" subtly including the "k" sound as in "luck," "SESH" like in "session," and "uhn" as in "fun")

This correction ensures the inclusion of the "k" sound following the initial schwa ("suh"), accurately reflecting the pronunciation of "succession" in both dialects.

Etymology

The term "succession" derives from the Latin word successio, from the verb succedere which means to follow or come after. This was carried into Old French as succession, and later adopted into Middle English around the 14th century.

Derivatives

• Successional
• Successor
• Successive
• Successively
• Successionist

Synonyms

• Sequence
• Progression
• Continuation

Antonyms

• Cessation
• Interruption
• Discontinuation

Usage

The term "succession" is widely used in legal, political, and biological contexts. It refers to a structured sequence or progression, whether it concerns inheriting positions of authority, properties, or even the process of ecological change in a community over time.

Related Terms

• Inheritance
• Legacy
• Successor

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Inheritance: The act or process of following in order or sequence.‍
• Example: The succession to the throne was a highly regulated process.

• Orderly Progression: A following of one thing after another in time or order; a sequence.‍
• Example: A succession of poor harvests defined that decade.

• Biological Change: In ecology, the process by which a plant or animal community successively gives way to another until a stable climax is reached.‍
• Example: The succession of plant life in the region followed predictable patterns after the fire.