asphyxiate
Meaning
to cause someone to die or become unconscious by blocking their breathing or depriving them of oxygen.
to feel or cause to feel trapped and oppressed.
Structure
Usage
the thick smoke from the fire began to asphyxiate the trapped residents.
improperly installed heaters can leak carbon monoxide and asphyxiate people while they sleep.
she felt the strict rules of the institution were designed to asphyxiate all creativity.
Etymology
The word 'asphyxiate' originates from Modern Latin 'asphyxiare', meaning "to stop the pulse". This, in turn, was derived from the Greek 'asphyxia', a combination of the prefix 'a-' (meaning "without") and 'sphyxis' (meaning "pulse"). The literal Greek concept of "absence of a pulse" described a state of apparent death from suffocation. Over time, the meaning broadened from the specific medical symptom (stopped pulse) to encompass the general modern process of causing suffocation or oxygen deprivation, regardless of whether the pulse has ceased.
Analysis
- a- (prefix): from greek, meaning "not, without, absence of". - sphyx (root): from greek "sphyxis", meaning "pulse, heartbeat". - iate (suffix): a verb-forming suffix, often from latin "-iatus", indicating an action or process.