ratify
UK[ˈrætɪfaɪ]US[ˈrætɪfaɪ]
v
to make an agreement officially valid by voting for or signing it
Morpheme Breakdown
rat
ify
rat
calculate, confirm
ify
verb suffix: to make
Etymology
the word 'ratify' originates from the latin verb 'ratificare', meaning 'to confirm, approve'. this is a compound of 'ratus', meaning 'reckoned, confirmed' (from 'reri', 'to think or calculate'), and the suffix '-ficare', meaning 'to make'. the core semantic journey is from the ancient concept of 'thinking something through' or 'reckoning it as valid' to the modern legal and political sense of formally confirming an agreement or treaty. the logic connects the act of deliberate consideration with the subsequent official act of endorsement, transforming a mental calculation into a binding formal action.
Analysis
Structure: rat (calculate, confirm) + ify (verb suffix: to make)
rat is from latin 'ratus', the past participle of 'reri' meaning 'to think, calculate, consider'. ify is a verb-forming suffix from latin '-ificare', meaning 'to make'.
Examples
the parliament voted to ratify the international treaty.
ten countries must ratify the agreement for it to come into force.
the union members will meet next week to ratify the new contract.