missile
UK[ˈmɪsaɪl]US[ˈmɪsl]
n
An object or weapon that is thrown, shot, or launched at a target.
n
A guided weapon that travels through the air or space under its own power.
Morpheme Breakdown
miss
ile
miss
send
ile
capable of
Etymology
The word "missile" originates from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send, to let go, to throw." The Latin adjective missilis, meaning "that can be thrown," was formed by adding the suffix -ilis (capable of) to the past participle stem miss- of mittere. It entered English in the 17th century, initially describing any object, like a spear or stone, designed to be thrown as a weapon. The modern, more specific meaning of a self-propelled guided weapon emerged in the 20th century, but the core logic of something "sent forth" or "projected" towards a target remains intact from its Latin roots.
Analysis
Structure: miss (send) + ile (capable of)
- miss: From Latin mittere (to send, to let go). Its functional role is the core semantic root.
- ile: A Latin adjectival suffix (-ilis) meaning "capable of, suitable for." Its functional role is to form an adjective from a verb.
Examples
The ancient soldiers used stones as simple missiles.
The cruiser fired a missile that intercepted the incoming target.
The protesters threw various missiles at the police barricade.