adhesive

the word 'adhesive' has a clear lineage from latin. it is built upon the verb 'adhaerere', meaning 'to stick to', which itself is a compound of the prefix 'ad-' (to) and the verb 'haerere' (to stick). the latin root 'haerere' is thought to derive from the proto-indo-european root ghais-, conveying the sense of sticking or adhering. the suffix '-ive' was added in english, following a latin pattern, to form an adjective describing the quality of sticking. thus, the literal meaning 'tending to stick to' evolved directly into the modern abstract sense of a sticky substance or property.

Structure: ad (to) + hes (stick) + ive (adjective suffix) ad (latin prefix, meaning 'to, toward'), hes (latin root from 'haerere', meaning 'to stick'), ive (latin suffix, forming adjectives meaning 'tending to, having the nature of')