deliberate
UK[dɪˈlɪbərət]US[dɪˈlɪbərət]
adj
done consciously and intentionally; not accidental
adj
careful and unhurried in thought, movement, or action
v
to think about or discuss something very carefully, especially before making a decision
Morpheme Breakdown
de
liber
ate
de
completely
liber
to weigh
ate
adjective/verb suffix
Etymology
the word deliberate originates from the latin deliberatus, the past participle of deliberare, meaning "to weigh well, consider carefully". this verb itself is composed of the intensive prefix de- and librare, "to weigh", derived from libra, "a balance, scale". the core logic of weighing something on a scale evolved metaphorically into the process of carefully balancing different factors in one's mind. consequently, the modern meanings—both the adjective describing intentional or careful action and the verb for careful consideration—stem directly from this ancient image of meticulous mental weighing.
Analysis
Structure: de (completely) + liber (to weigh) + ate (adjective/verb suffix)
de: latin origin, a prefix meaning "completely" or "down from".
liber: latin origin, from libra meaning "a balance, scale", thus "to weigh".
ate: latin origin via french, a suffix forming adjectives (meaning "characterized by") and verbs (meaning "to act in a specified manner").
Examples
the fire was a deliberate act of vandalism.
she has a slow, deliberate way of speaking.
the jury will now deliberate on the verdict.