late 14c., from Old French participacion (13c.) and directly from Late Latin participationem (nominative participatio) "partaking," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin participare "participate in, share in, partake of; to make partaker, to share, impart," from particeps (genitive participis) "partaker, comrade, fellow soldier," also, as an adjective, "sharing, partaking," from pars (genitive partis) "part" (see part, n.) + -cip-, weak form of stem of capere "to take" (see capable).