cremate
UK[krɪˈmeɪt]US[ˈkriːmeɪt]
v
To burn a dead body until it becomes ash, especially as a funeral rite.
Morpheme Breakdown
crem
ate
crem
to burn
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'cremate' is a direct borrowing from the Latin verb cremare, meaning "to burn, to consume by fire". This Latin root is itself thought to derive from the Proto-Indo-European base ker- or krem-, which carried the core meaning of heat or fire, a root also visible in words like 'hearth'. The modern English verb was formed in the 19th century by appending the productive English suffix '-ate', used to form verbs from Latin stems, to the root 'crem-'. Thus, the literal morphemic logic of "to cause to burn" perfectly aligns with its specific modern application: the ceremonial burning of a human corpse.
Analysis
Structure: crem (to burn) + ate (verb suffix)
- crem: A root of Latin origin (cremare, meaning "to burn, to consume by fire").
- ate: A verb-forming suffix of Latin origin (-atus), used to create verbs meaning "to act upon" or "to cause to become".
Examples
The family decided to cremate his remains and scatter the ashes at sea.
In many cultures, it is traditional to cremate the deceased rather than bury them.
The law requires specific permits and facilities to legally cremate a body.