aggravate
UK[ˈæɡrəveɪt]US[ˈæɡrəveɪt]
v
to make a bad situation, an illness, or an injury worse
v
to make someone angry or annoyed
Morpheme Breakdown
ad
grav
ate
ad
to, towards, intensification
grav
heavy, weighty
ate
Etymology
the word 'aggravate' originates from the latin verb 'aggravare', which is a compound of the prefix 'ad-' (to, towards) and the adjective 'gravis' (heavy, serious). the literal meaning was 'to make heavier', either in a physical sense or in a metaphorical sense of adding to a burden. this core idea of adding weight or seriousness evolved through late latin and middle english to signify making a condition or situation more severe or burdensome. the modern sense of 'to annoy or exasperate' developed in the 16th century as a figurative extension of making a person's emotional or mental state 'heavier' or more troubled.
Analysis
Structure: ad + grav + ate
ad- (latin, prefix meaning 'to, towards, intensification'); grav- (latin, root meaning 'heavy, weighty'); -ate (latin, verb-forming suffix)
Examples
his rude comments only served to aggravate the tense situation.
scratching the rash will aggravate the skin condition.
it really aggravates me when people are constantly late.