matriculate
UK[məˈtrɪkjʊleɪt]US[məˈtrɪkjəˌleɪt]
v
to enroll as a student at a college or university
v
to be admitted to a group or society, especially a university
Morpheme Breakdown
matri
culate
matri
mother
culate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'matriculate' originates from the late latin 'matriculatus', the past participle of 'matriculare', meaning 'to register'. this verb derives from 'matricula', a diminutive of 'matrix', which in latin meant 'list' or 'register' but also carried the sense of 'womb' or 'source', from 'mater' (mother). the conceptual link is that a university's official register was seen as the metaphorical 'womb' or 'source' from which its student body was produced. thus, the literal sense of being entered into the mother-list evolved into the modern abstract meaning of formal admission into an institution.
Analysis
Structure: matri (mother) + culate (verb suffix)
matri (from latin 'mater', meaning mother, indicating a foundational or nurturing source); culate (a verb-forming suffix from latin '-culatus', indicating an action or process)
Examples
she hopes to matriculate at a prestigious law school next fall.
students must fulfill all requirements before they can matriculate.
the ceremony marks the day when new students officially matriculate into the university.