penetrate
UK[ˈpen.ɪ.treɪt]US[ˈpen.ə.treɪt]
v
to go into or through something
v
to succeed in understanding something
v
to enter and become part of an organization, especially in order to find out secret information
Morpheme Breakdown
penetr
ate
penetr
inner part
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'penetrate' originates from the latin verb 'penetrare', which means 'to put or go into, to enter'. this verb is derived from the latin adverb 'penitus', signifying 'inwardly, deeply, far within'. the core semantic notion is one of moving into the interior or deepest part of something. this literal sense of physical entry evolved in english to encompass more abstract meanings, such as gaining deep understanding or infiltrating a group, while retaining the fundamental idea of reaching the inside.
Analysis
Structure: penetr (inner part) + ate (verb suffix)
penetr (from latin 'penetrare', meaning to put or go into, from 'penitus' meaning inwardly, deep within); ate (a verb-forming suffix of latin origin indicating an action or process).
Examples
the bullet failed to penetrate the body armor.
it took a long time to penetrate the mysteries of the ancient text.
the agency managed to penetrate the criminal network.