- -ate
-
I. noun suffix
Etymology: Middle English -at, from Anglo-French, from Latin -atus, -atum, masculine & neuter of -atus, past participle ending
1. one acted upon (in a specified way) <distillate> 2. [New Latin -atum, from Latin] chemical compound or complex anion derived from a (specified) compound or element <phenolate>; especially salt or ester of an acid with a name ending in -ic and not beginning with hydro- <borate> II. noun suffix Etymology: Middle English -at, from Anglo-French, from Latin -atus, from -a-, stem vowel of 1st conjunction + -tus, suffix of verbal nouns 1. office ; function ; rank ; group of persons holding a (specified) office or rank or having a (specified) function <vicarate> 2. state ; dominion ; jurisdiction <emirate> <khanate> III. adjective suffix Etymology: Middle English -at, from Latin -atus, from past participle ending of 1st conjunction verbs, from -a-, stem vowel of 1st conjunction + -tus, past participle suffix — more at -ed marked by having <craniate> IV. verb suffix Etymology: Middle English -aten, from Latin -atus, past participle ending act on (in a specified way) <insulate> ; cause to be modified or affected by <camphorate> ; cause to become <activate> ; furnish with <capacitate>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.