ate

1 of 6

Synonyms of ate next

past tense of eat

Ate

2 of 6

noun

ˈä-tē

ˈā-(ˌ)tē

ˈä-ˌtā

: a Greek goddess personifying foolhardy and ruinous impulse

-ate

3 of 6

noun suffix (1)

: one acted upon (in a specified way)

distillate

[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

-ate

4 of 6

noun suffix (2)

: office : function : rank : group of persons holding a (specified) office or rank or having a (specified) function

vicarate

: state : dominion : jurisdiction

emirate

khanate

-ate

5 of 6

adjective suffix

: marked by having

craniate

-ate

6 of 6

verb suffix

: act on (in a specified way)

insulate

: cause to be modified or affected by

camphorate

: cause to become

activate

: furnish with

capacitate

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek Atē

Noun suffix (1)

Middle English -at, from Anglo-French, from Latin -atus, -atum, masculine & neuter of -atus, past participle ending

Noun suffix (2)

Middle English -at, from Anglo-French, from Latin -atus, from -a-, stem vowel of 1st conjugation + -tus, suffix of verbal nouns

Adjective suffix

Middle English -at, from Latin -atus, from past participle ending of 1st conjugation verbs, from -a-, stem vowel of 1st conjugation + -tus, past participle suffix — more at -ed

Verb suffix

Middle English -aten, from Latin -atus, past participle ending

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of ate was in 1583

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

ate

1 of 4

past of eat

-ate

2 of 4 noun suffix

ət,

ˌāt

: office : function : rank : group of persons holding a specified office or rank

-ate

3 of 4 adjective suffix

: marked by having

chordate

-ate

4 of 4 verb suffix

ˌāt

: cause to be modified or affected by

hydrogenate

: cause to become

activate

: furnish with

aerate

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -atus (noun suffix)

Adjective suffix

derived from Latin -atus (adjective suffix)

Verb suffix

derived from ²-ate

Medical Definition

ate

past of eat

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ate

noun

noun suffix (1)

noun suffix (2)

adjective suffix

verb suffix

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near ate

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition