-ate (to do)
(Latin: a suffix; to do, to make, to cause, or to act upon; to do something with)
abbreviate (verb), abbreviates; abbreviated; abbreviating
1. To shorten a word by leaving out some of its letters or sounds: "The speaker abbreviated his lecture so the audience could go home before the thunder storm arrived."
2. To shorten a piece of text by cutting out sections or paraphrasing it; that is, abridged, shortened, or cut short: "The -brev- in abbreviate, abbreviates, etc. came from Latin brevis, meaning "short", which is also the source of the word brief; therefore, abbreviate means "to make briefer, to make shorter" by combining or omitting elements of the contents of a verbal or a written message."
2. To shorten a piece of text by cutting out sections or paraphrasing it; that is, abridged, shortened, or cut short: "The -brev- in abbreviate, abbreviates, etc. came from Latin brevis, meaning "short", which is also the source of the word brief; therefore, abbreviate means "to make briefer, to make shorter" by combining or omitting elements of the contents of a verbal or a written message."
abdicate (AB duh kit) (adjective)
A descriptive term for a person who has given up a right, a trust, or an office; either voluntarily or under pressure: "The abdicate congressman resigned his position after his party urged him to leave when he finally admitted presenting himself inappropriately on an internet social-networking site."
abdicate, abrogate, arrogate, derogate, delegate, delegate, delicate
abdicate (AB duh kayt") (verb)
1. To formally renounce, which is commonly done by a monarch of a throne; vacate a throne, relinquish, abandon: "Edward VIII of England decided to abdicate the throne so he could marry a commoner."
2. To give up one's responsibilities, office, duties, or rights: "Rafael chose to abdicate his responsibilities as a father and so his family never saw him again."
2. To give up one's responsibilities, office, duties, or rights: "Rafael chose to abdicate his responsibilities as a father and so his family never saw him again."
abrogate (AB ruh gayt") (verb)
1. To abolish or to annul by authority; to nullify, to cancel: "Henry associated himself with those who believe that Congress should abrogate the current tax law."
2. Not doing that which is required of a person or a group of people: "The banking officials were accused of trying to abrogate their duties."
2. Not doing that which is required of a person or a group of people: "The banking officials were accused of trying to abrogate their duties."
arrogate (AIR uh gayt") (verb)
1. To claim, to take, to appropriate, or to assume for oneself without right; as when a person will determine certain privileges for himself: "Monroe did indeed arrogate to himself the powers of a general."
"Some U.S. Presidents have decided to arrogate the power of congress to declare war."
2. To assign or to attribute to another person without justification: "Neil accused the neighbor woman of wanting to arrogate to herself the power to punish people."derogate (DER uh gayt") (verb)
1. To take away or to detract: "Senator Johnson was warned that such a statement will derogate his reputation."
2. To say or to suggest that someone, or something, is not worthy of respect or is not important: "There were times when the man's wife would derogate him for not achieving better pay with his company."
2. To say or to suggest that someone, or something, is not worthy of respect or is not important: "There were times when the man's wife would derogate him for not achieving better pay with his company."
delegate (DEL i git); (noun)
Someone who is authorized or sent to speak and act for others; representative, as at a convention: "Every state will send a delegate to the convention."
delegate (DEL i gayt"), (verb)
To entrust (authority, power, etc.) to a person acting as one's agent or representative; entrust, assign, give over, charge, commit to the care of: "Cheryl wants to delegate her power of attorney to her nephew."
A delegate is someone who is sent with authority to represent another or others; to delegate work or authority is to transfer or to send it to another person.
delicate (DEL i kit) (adjective)
1. Pleasing in its lightness, mildness, subtlety, etc. (a delicate flavor, odor, color, etc.); fine, dainty, exquisite, elegant: "Queen Anne wore a long gown of delicate silk."
2. Easily damaged, spoiled, fragile, frail, perishable; dainty: "The plate was so delicate that Sarah was afraid to wash it."
3. Frail, feeble, debilitated, weakened; infirm, unwell, sickly, ailing: "Marie and Jamie were concerned about their little girl's delicate condition."
4. Palatable, savory, delicious, appetizing, luscious: "Debra Rogers, the hostess, presented a tray of delicate food to her guests."
5. Soft, muted, subdued: "Ted and Cheryl had the walls of their apartment painted with a delicate blue."
6. Exquisite, minute, detailed: "Clyde and Donna admired the delicate workmanship on the bronze doors."
7. Tactful, tasteful, diplomatic, careful, sensitive, refined: "Jessie Brown, the public relations manager, handled the situation in a delicate manner."
2. Easily damaged, spoiled, fragile, frail, perishable; dainty: "The plate was so delicate that Sarah was afraid to wash it."
3. Frail, feeble, debilitated, weakened; infirm, unwell, sickly, ailing: "Marie and Jamie were concerned about their little girl's delicate condition."
4. Palatable, savory, delicious, appetizing, luscious: "Debra Rogers, the hostess, presented a tray of delicate food to her guests."
5. Soft, muted, subdued: "Ted and Cheryl had the walls of their apartment painted with a delicate blue."
6. Exquisite, minute, detailed: "Clyde and Donna admired the delicate workmanship on the bronze doors."
7. Tactful, tasteful, diplomatic, careful, sensitive, refined: "Jessie Brown, the public relations manager, handled the situation in a delicate manner."
The female senator decided to abdicate her senatorial seat after she abrogated a decision that would arrogate her right to become a delegate of a congressional committee when a political opponent felt the need to derogate her because of her delicate physical condition.
abnegate (verb), abnegates; abnegated; abnegating
1. To give up or to surrender: "The King abnegated his throne to his son."
2. To deny something to oneself; to restrain; especially, from indulging in some pleasure: "The minister of the church abnegated the material luxuries of life."
2. To deny something to oneself; to restrain; especially, from indulging in some pleasure: "The minister of the church abnegated the material luxuries of life."
"When Agnes Marcia became a nun after the death of her son and husband in an auto accident, she was abnegating a life of comfort and ease in order to dedicate her life to God."
"Indulging in an ice cream sundae abnegates the healthful effects of having a salad for lunch."
"Because Lucy wanted to lose weight, she is abnegating the eating of chocolate for an entire month."
accelerative (adjective)
Tending to increase velocity or speed.
accentuate
1. To make a feature of something more noticeable: "We were convinced that the newspaper article accentuated, or emphasized, the positive aspects of the program."
2. To emphasize a syllable, word, or phrase when saying it: "When she spoke, she tended to accentuate her words with French pronunciations."
3. Etymology: known from 1731, from Medieval Latin (written and spoken from 700 to 1500) accentuatus, past participle of accentuare, "to accent", from Latin accentus, "song added to speech"; from ad-, "to" + cantus, "a singing"; past participle of canere, "to sing".
2. To emphasize a syllable, word, or phrase when saying it: "When she spoke, she tended to accentuate her words with French pronunciations."
3. Etymology: known from 1731, from Medieval Latin (written and spoken from 700 to 1500) accentuatus, past participle of accentuare, "to accent", from Latin accentus, "song added to speech"; from ad-, "to" + cantus, "a singing"; past participle of canere, "to sing".
accurate
1. Giving a correct, or truthful, representation of something: "His account of what happened yesterday was not accurate."
2. That which is precise or free from errors and done with care; such as, an accurate report.
3. Capable of providing information in accordance with an accepted standard: "The radio-controlled watch provides the most accurate time."
2. That which is precise or free from errors and done with care; such as, an accurate report.
3. Capable of providing information in accordance with an accepted standard: "The radio-controlled watch provides the most accurate time."
Word History
To do something accurately, one must do it carefully; as even the etymology of the word suggests. Latin cura means "care", and accurare means "to expend care on, to take care of". The past participle accuratus means "done with care", and from it we have made our word accurate.
acetate
1. A salt or ester of acetic acid.
2. Cellulose acetate or any of various products, especially fibers, derived from it.
2. Cellulose acetate or any of various products, especially fibers, derived from it.
adjudicate, adjudicates; adjudicated; adjudicating (verbs)
1. In law, to hear and decide (a case), to reach a judicial decision about something; to adjudge.
2. Someone who serves as a judge and who makes an official decision about a problem or dispute.
2. Someone who serves as a judge and who makes an official decision about a problem or dispute.
adulterate
1. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones; mixed with impurities.
2. To adulterate, to debase, to doctor. These verbs mean to make impure or inferior by adding foreign substances to something: to adulterate coffee with ground acorns; to have silver debased with copper; having doctored the wine with water; to use rag paper loaded with wood fiber.
3. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance; adulterated; spurious.
4. Tainted with adultery.
5. To commit adultery.
6. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coin, etc.
7. To defile by adultery.
2. To adulterate, to debase, to doctor. These verbs mean to make impure or inferior by adding foreign substances to something: to adulterate coffee with ground acorns; to have silver debased with copper; having doctored the wine with water; to use rag paper loaded with wood fiber.
3. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance; adulterated; spurious.
4. Tainted with adultery.
5. To commit adultery.
6. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coin, etc.
7. To defile by adultery.
Etymologically, to make impure by admixture; to corrupt from Latin adulteratus, past participle of adulterare, "to falsify, corrupt; to corrupt a woman; to commit adultery", dissimilated from ad- alterare, literally "to change, alter", from ad- and alterare, "to change, alter".
aerate
1. To expose a substance to air or another gas; such as, the passing of air through a liquid substance, or the process of air entering the soil.
2. To expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through.
3. To change or treat with air or a gas; especially, with carbon dioxide.
2. To expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through.
3. To change or treat with air or a gas; especially, with carbon dioxide.
affectionate
alkylate
alleviate, alleviates, alleviated, alleviating (verb forms)
1. To make something such as pain or hardship more bearable or less severe.
2. To make easier to endure; to lessen; to mitigate: "to alleviate sorrow"; "to alleviate pain".
3. From Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare "to lighten", from Latin ad-, "to" plus levis, "light (in weight)".
2. To make easier to endure; to lessen; to mitigate: "to alleviate sorrow"; "to alleviate pain".
3. From Late Latin alleviatus, past participle of alleviare "to lighten", from Latin ad-, "to" plus levis, "light (in weight)".
allocate
