integrator
UK[ˈɪn.tɪ.ɡreɪ.tər]US[ˈɪn.t̬ə.ɡreɪ.t̬ɚ]
n
A person or thing that integrates, especially a device or circuit whose output is proportional to the integral of the input.
n
A person who brings together people from different groups in society.
Morpheme Breakdown
integr
ator
integr
whole
ator
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'integrator' is built upon the Latin verb integrare, meaning "to make whole, renew." This verb itself stems from the adjective integer (whole, complete), which is formed from the prefix in- (not) and the root tag- (to touch), literally "untouched," hence intact and complete. The suffix -ator was added in Latin to form agent nouns. Thus, the literal morphemic logic is "one who makes whole." This meaning evolved from the physical sense of restoring wholeness to the modern technical and social abstractions: a device that computes a mathematical whole (the integral) or a person who unites disparate social elements into a cohesive whole.
Analysis
Structure: integr (whole) + ator (agent suffix)
- integr: From Latin integer meaning "whole, untouched, complete." In this word, it functions as the core root conveying the sense of making whole or uniting.
- ator: A Latin-derived agent noun suffix (equivalent to -er), indicating "a person or thing that performs the action of the verb (integrate)."
Examples
The circuit designer used an operational amplifier as an integrator in the control system.
She worked as a community integrator, helping new immigrants adapt to life in the city.
In calculus, an integrator finds the area under a curve.