refrigerate
UK[rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪt]US[rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪt]
v
to make or keep something, especially food or drink, cold in order to preserve it
Morpheme Breakdown
re
friger
ate
re
again
friger
cold
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'refrigerate' has a clear and logical construction from latin. it is built on the latin verb refrigerare, meaning "to make cool or cold again". this verb itself is a compound of the prefix re- (here intensifying the action) and the root frigus, meaning "cold", combined with the frequentative or causative verbal suffix -are. the core concept of "cold" from frigus has remained remarkably stable through its journey into english via middle french. the modern abstract meaning directly follows the literal morphemic logic: to apply cold (friger) to something, often repeatedly or for preservation (re-), thereby making it cold.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + friger (cold) + ate (verb suffix)
re: latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
friger: latin origin, from the root frigus meaning "cold". it functions as the core semantic root.
ate: latin origin, a verb-forming suffix indicating "to make" or "to act upon".
Examples
please refrigerate the milk as soon as you get home.
some medicines need to be refrigerated to maintain their potency.
the dough must be refrigerated for at least an hour before baking.