donate
UK[dəʊˈneɪt]US[ˈdoʊˌneɪt]
v
To give money, goods, or time to an organization, especially a charity, without wanting anything in return.
v
To allow a part of your body or some of your blood to be removed so it can be used for medical purposes.
Morpheme Breakdown
don
ate
don
give
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'donate' entered English in the late 18th century, derived from the past participle stem 'dōnāt-' of the Latin verb 'dōnāre', meaning 'to give, present, bestow'. This Latin term itself evolved from the noun 'dōnum', meaning 'gift', which can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root dō-, meaning 'to give'. The semantic journey is direct and logical: from the fundamental concept of giving, to the specific act of giving a gift, and finally to the modern, formalized act of giving to a cause or institution. The suffix '-ate' systematically converts this core idea into a verb, solidifying its meaning as 'to make a gift of'.
Analysis
Structure: don (give) + ate (verb suffix)
'don' originates from the Latin verb 'dōnāre', meaning 'to give as a gift'. 'ate' is a verb-forming suffix of Latin origin, used to create verbs from nouns or adjectives.
Examples
She decided to donate a portion of her inheritance to the local animal shelter.
Many people generously donate blood during times of crisis.
The company encourages employees to donate their time to volunteer projects.