levitate
UK[ˈlev.ɪ.teɪt]US[ˈlev.ə.teɪt]
v
to rise or cause to rise and float in the air, especially by means of supposed magical or supernatural power.
v
to be suspended in or as if in the air, seeming to defy gravity.
Morpheme Breakdown
levit
ate
levit
light
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word levitate has its roots in the latin adjective levis, meaning 'light in weight'. this latin term itself can be traced back to the proto-indo-european root legwh-, which carried the sense of 'lightness' or 'having little weight'. the suffix -ate, borrowed from latin -atus, is commonly used to form verbs indicating a process or state. therefore, the literal construction of levitate is 'to make light', which evolved into the modern abstract meaning of rising or floating in the air, as if made weightless.
Analysis
Structure: levit (light) + ate (verb suffix)
levit originates from latin levis, meaning 'light (in weight)'. ate is a latin-derived verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make or become'.
Examples
the magician appeared to levitate several feet above the stage.
in meditation, some practitioners report a sensation of their body beginning to levitate.
scientists used powerful magnetic fields to levitate the small metallic object.