percolator
UK[ˈpɜːkəleɪtə]US[ˈpɜːrkəleɪtər]
n
A pot for making coffee in which boiling water is forced up a central tube and then filters down through the ground coffee beans.
n
A device or apparatus that causes a liquid to percolate.
Morpheme Breakdown
percolate
or
percolate
verb
or
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'percolator' is a modern English formation, built directly upon the verb 'percolate'. The verb itself originates from the Latin 'percolare', a compound of 'per-' (meaning 'through') and 'colare' (meaning 'to strain'). This etymology perfectly captures the device's function: it is literally "a thing that strains liquid through" a medium. The agent suffix '-or' was attached in English to create a noun for the apparatus, following a common pattern for naming instruments (like 'generator', 'calculator'). Thus, the journey is from the Latin concept of thorough straining to the specific modern appliance designed for that very purpose.
Analysis
Structure: percolate (verb) + or (agent suffix)
- percolate: From Latin 'percolatus', the past participle of 'percolare', meaning 'to strain through'. It functions as the verbal root.
- or: A Latin-derived agent noun suffix, indicating a person or thing that performs the action of the verb.
Examples
The old percolator on the stove bubbled merrily, filling the kitchen with the rich aroma of coffee.
For a stronger brew, let the coffee percolate in the percolator for a few more minutes.
In the chemistry lab, they used a glass percolator to extract the essential oils from the plant material.