phenomenon
• noun (pl. phenomena) 1 a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question. 2 Philosophy the object of a person’s perception. 3 a remarkable person or thing. — USAGE The word phenomenon comes from Greek, and its plural form is phenomena. In standard English it is a mistake to treat phenomena as if it were a singular form. — ORIGIN Greek phainomenon ‘thing appearing to view’.
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