applauded
UK[əˈplɔːdɪd]US[əˈplɔːdɪd]
v
to show approval or enjoyment of something by clapping the hands repeatedly
v
to express strong approval of an idea, plan, person, etc.
Morpheme Breakdown
ap
plaud
ed
ap
to, towards
plaud
to clap, strike
ed
verb suffix, past tense
Etymology
the word 'applauded' originates from the latin verb 'applaudere', itself a combination of the prefix 'ad-' (meaning 'to') and 'plaudere' (meaning 'to clap or strike'). the literal sense was 'to strike upon', referring to the action of clapping hands together. this physical act of striking palms became a universal gesture of public approval in roman theaters, a cultural practice that carried directly into modern english usage. the '-ed' suffix is the standard germanic marker for the past tense, grafted onto this latin-derived stem to form the regular verb 'applauded', which retains the core meaning of expressing praise through the metaphorical or literal act of clapping.
Analysis
Structure: ap (to, towards) + plaud (to clap, strike) + ed (verb suffix, past tense)
ap: latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to, towards'. it assimilates to 'ap-' before 'p'.
plaud: from latin verb 'plaudere', meaning 'to clap, strike, beat'.
ed: old english suffix, used to form the past tense and past participle of regular verbs.
Examples
the audience applauded enthusiastically at the end of the performance.
critics applauded the government's new initiative on climate change.
she was applauded for her courage in speaking out.