marinate
UK[ˈmærɪneɪt]US[ˈmærɪneɪt]
v
To soak food in a seasoned liquid before cooking to flavor and tenderize it.
Morpheme Breakdown
marin
ate
marin
sea, brine
ate
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
The word 'marinate' originates from the Italian verb 'marinare', which means 'to pickle in brine'. This, in turn, derives from the Latin adjective 'marinus', meaning 'of the sea', as the original pickling medium was seawater or brine. The culinary sense evolved from the general concept of preserving or flavoring food by soaking it in a salty liquid. Over time, the meaning broadened to include soaking in any seasoned liquid, such as oil, vinegar, or wine, for the purpose of flavoring and tenderizing, not merely preservation.
Analysis
Structure: marin (sea, brine) + ate (verb-forming suffix)
'marin' is from Latin 'marinus' (of the sea), via Italian 'marinare' (to pickle in brine). 'ate' is a verb-forming suffix of Latin origin.
Examples
Marinate the chicken in yogurt and spices for at least four hours.
The recipe suggests you marinate the tofu overnight for maximum flavor.
He prefers to marinate the steak in a simple mixture of olive oil and herbs.