commute
UK[kəˈmjuːt]US[kəˈmjuːt]
v
to travel regularly by bus, train, car, etc., between your place of work and your home
v
to exchange one thing, especially one kind of payment or punishment, for another
v
(mathematics, law) to replace one operation or set of quantities by another, especially a simpler one
Morpheme Breakdown
com
mute
com
together, with
mute
change
Etymology
the word "commute" originates from the latin verb commutare, meaning "to change altogether, to exchange." this is formed from the intensive prefix com- and the verb mutare, "to change." the core semantic thread is transformation or substitution. the modern sense of regular travel developed in the united states in the mid-19th century, evolving from the idea of exchanging or substituting a long, arduous journey for a regular, repeated, and typically shorter one, especially after the substitution of a long prison sentence for a lighter one. thus, the logic moves from a general concept of thorough change to the specific modern meanings of exchanging penalties or, more commonly, the regular change of location between home and work.
Analysis
Structure: com (together, with) + mute (change)
com- is a Latin prefix meaning "together, with, thoroughly." -mute is from the Latin root mutare, meaning "to change."
Examples
she commutes to the city by train every day.
his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
the company allows employees to commute some of their vacation days for extra pay.