enunciate
UK[ɪˈnʌn.si.eɪt]US[ɪˈnʌn.si.eɪt]
v
to pronounce words or parts of words clearly
v
to express an idea clearly and in few words
Morpheme Breakdown
e
nunci
ate
e
out
nunci
announce
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word "enunciate" originates from the latin verb enuntiare, meaning "to declare, announce, or report." this verb itself is a compound of the prefix e- (a variant of ex-, meaning "out") and the verb nuntiare ("to announce"). the core root nunt- or nunci-, signifying a messenger or message, can be traced back to the proto-indo-european root neu-, meaning "to shout" or "to call." the literal sense of "speaking out" or "announcing" evolved in english to specifically denote the clear and distinct articulation of speech sounds. thus, the modern meaning retains the core idea of making a message come "out" clearly, whether through precise pronunciation or the lucid expression of ideas.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + nunci (announce) + ate (verb suffix)
e: a latin prefix meaning "out".
nunci: from latin nuntiare (to announce, report), related to nuntius (messenger).
ate: a verb-forming suffix from latin -atus, indicating an action or process.
Examples
she was taught to enunciate each syllable carefully for her speech class.
the candidate failed to enunciate a clear policy on the issue.
please enunciate your words more clearly; i can't understand you over the phone.