habituate
UK[həˈbɪtʃueɪt]US[həˈbɪtʃueɪt]
v
to make or become accustomed or used to something.
v
(archaic) to frequent a place.
Morpheme Breakdown
habit
u
ate
habit
condition, practice
u
ate
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
the verb "habituate" originates from the late latin 'habituare', meaning to bring into a condition or to accustom, which itself derives from 'habitus', the past participle of 'habere' (to have, hold, possess). the core notion is of possessing a particular state or condition. the semantic journey moved from the concrete idea of holding or possessing a physical state ('habitus' as bearing or dress) to the more abstract concept of possessing a settled practice or custom. the english verb, formed by adding the productive suffix '-ate' to the root 'habit', thus logically means to cause someone to possess or acquire a habitual condition, translating to the modern sense of making someone accustomed to something through repeated exposure.
Analysis
Structure: habit (condition, practice) + u + ate (verb-forming suffix)
- habit: from latin 'habitus' meaning condition, bearing, practice. functions as the core root conveying the sense of a settled practice or state.
- u: a connective vowel, often used in latin-derived words to join a root to a suffix.
- ate: a suffix of latin origin ('-atus') used to form verbs meaning to act upon, cause to become, or furnish with.
Examples
it takes time to habituate oneself to the high altitude.
the animals quickly became habituated to the presence of the researchers.
(archaic) he would often habituate the local tavern.