aborigine
UK[ˌæb.əˈrɪdʒ.ən.i]US[ˌæb.əˈrɪdʒ.ən.i]
n
a member of the original people to live in a country, especially australia, before europeans arrived
Morpheme Breakdown
ab
origine
ab
from
origine
beginning, source, origin
Etymology
the word 'aborigine' is a direct borrowing from the latin plural 'aborigines', which was used to refer to the original inhabitants of a region. it is formed from the latin preposition 'ab', meaning "from," and 'origine', the ablative case of 'origo', meaning "beginning" or "source." thus, the term literally means "from the beginning," describing people who have been present in a land since its earliest known history. while the latin term was used classically, its specific application to the indigenous peoples of australia began with british colonization in the late 18th century, solidifying its modern, often capitalized usage.
Analysis
Structure: ab + origine
ab- (latin, preposition meaning "from"); origine (latin, noun meaning "beginning, source, origin")
Examples
the museum has an exhibit on the tools and culture of the australian aborigine.
the land holds deep spiritual significance for the aborigines.
efforts are being made to preserve the languages of the aborigine peoples.