Annexe

Part of Speech

Noun / Verb

Pronunciation

/ˈænɛks/

Definitions

• 1. (Noun) A building or part of a building added to or connected with a larger structure, typically for a specific function or purpose.
• 2. (Noun, British) A supplementary or additional section of a document, especially an appendix or annex.
• 3. (Verb) To add or attach something, especially a building or part of a building, to an existing structure.

Usage Examples

• The school constructed an annexe to accommodate the growing number of students.
• The report included several annexes with additional data and research findings.
• They decided to annexe the new office wing to the main building for convenience.

Etymology

Derived from the French word "annexe," meaning an addition or an appendage, which itself comes from the Latin "annexus," meaning 'to bind together.' The word has been used in English since the early 18th century to refer to supplementary parts or extensions added to buildings or documents.

Synonyms

• Extension
• Annex
• Attachment
• Addition
• Supplement

Antonyms

• Reduction
• Subtraction
• Detachment
• Exclusion
• Contraction

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• In British English, the pronunciation is more focused on the first syllable: /ˈænɛks/.
• In American English, the pronunciation may emphasize the second syllable: /æˈnɛks/.

Historical Usage

The term "annexe" has been historically used to describe extensions or additional parts of buildings, especially in the context of institutional buildings such as schools, hospitals, and government offices. It also gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries as a term for a section added to legal or diplomatic documents, such as treaties, to provide additional details. In a more political sense, "annexe" has been used to refer to territories or regions that were added to an existing state or nation, especially during the age of colonialism.

Cultural Nuances

The use of "annexe" in contemporary contexts often retains a neutral connotation, referring simply to an additional structure or section. However, in political discourse, the term "annexe" can also carry historical baggage, particularly when referring to colonial annexations. In modern real estate or architecture, the word is largely used in the context of practical extensions, like adding a new wing to a building, without the negative connotations associated with historical annexation.

More Information

The term "annexe" is commonly used in the context of buildings, whether residential, educational, or commercial, to refer to supplementary structures that serve specific functions. Additionally, in the world of documents, annexes often appear as appendices that provide extra details or clarifications. The word has also found a niche in the political lexicon, where it can describe territories or regions that were absorbed into larger states through diplomatic or military means. Today, the term is most commonly associated with the construction of additional structures for various practical purposes, without the historical baggage that once accompanied it.