pulsate
UK[pʌlˈseɪt]US[ˈpʌl.seɪt]
v
to make sounds or movements with a regular strong rhythm; to beat or throb.
v
to be filled with a strong emotion or excitement.
Morpheme Breakdown
puls
ate
puls
drive, beat
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word pulsate originates from the latin verb pulsare, meaning 'to beat, strike, or push repeatedly,' which is the frequentative form of pellere (to drive, strike). this root, pel-, is traceable to the proto-indo-European base pel- meaning 'to thrust, strike, or drive,' a concept central to motion and force. the semantic journey moved from the physical act of striking or pushing to the more specific, rhythmic sense of beating, as in a heart or artery. consequently, in modern english, pulsate retains this core idea of rhythmic beating while also extending metaphorically to describe anything vibrating with energy or intense feeling.
Analysis
Structure: puls (drive, beat) + ate (verb suffix)
puls is from latin pulsus, the past participle stem of pellere (to drive, push, beat). ate is a verb-forming suffix of latin origin, indicating to act upon or perform.
Examples
the lights pulsated in time with the music.
a pulsating blood vessel can often be felt at the wrist.
the city pulsates with life day and night.