| 单词 | -ate |
| 释义 | -ate -ate1 a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, its English distribution paralleling that of Latin. The form originated as a suffix added to a-stem verbs to form adjectives (separate). The resulting form could also be used independently as a noun (advocate) and came to be used as a stem on which a verb could be formed (separate; advocate; agitate). In English the use as a verbal suffix has been extended to stems of non-Latin origin: calibrate; acierate. [ < L -atus (masc.), -ata (fem.), -atum (neut.), equiv. to -a- thematic vowel + -tus, -ta, -tum ptp. suffix] -ate2 a specialization of -ATE1, used to indicate a salt of an acid ending in -IC, added to a form of the stem of the element or group: nitrate; sulfate. Compare -ITE1. [prob. orig. in NL phrases, as plumbum acetatum salt produced by the action of acetic acid on lead] -ate3 a suffix occurring orig. in nouns borrowed from Latin, and in English coinages from Latin bases, that denote offices or functions (consulate; triumvirate; pontificate), as well as institutions or collective bodies (electorate; senate); sometimes extended to denote a person who exercises such a function (magistrate; potentate), an associated place (consulate), or a period of office or rule (protectorate). Joined to stems of any origin, ate3 signifies the office, term of office, or territory of a ruler or official (caliphate; khanate; shogunate). [ < L -atus (gen. -atus), generalized from v. ders., as auguratus office of an augur (augura(re) to foretell by augury + -tus suffix of v. action), construed as der. of augur AUGUR] |
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