humiliate
UK[hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt]US[hjuːˈmɪl.i.eɪt]
v
to make someone feel very ashamed or stupid, especially in front of other people.
Morpheme Breakdown
humil
iate
humil
lowly
iate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word humiliate traces its lineage to the latin verb 'humiliare', meaning 'to make low'. this, in turn, derives from the adjective 'humilis' (lowly), which is built upon 'humus', the latin word for earth or ground. the core semantic concept is one of lowering someone's social or psychological standing, bringing them figuratively to the ground. over time, this literal sense of physical lowering evolved into the modern abstract meaning of causing someone to feel a profound loss of dignity or pride.
Analysis
Structure: humil (lowly) + iate (verb suffix)
humil originates from latin 'humilis', meaning low, lowly, or on the ground. iate is a verb-forming suffix from latin '-iare', indicating to make or become.
Examples
he was humiliated when his mistake was pointed out in front of the entire team.
the coach warned the players not to humiliate their opponents, even in a decisive victory.
she felt deeply humiliated by the public criticism.