serrated
UK[səˈreɪtɪd]US[ˈsɛreɪtɪd]
adj
Having a row of small, sharp points along the edge like a saw.
Morpheme Breakdown
serrat
ed
serrat
saw
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'serrated' traces its lineage directly to the Latin noun serra, meaning 'saw'. This concrete tool gave rise to the past participle serratus, meaning 'sawed' or 'notched like a saw'. Borrowed into English, the Latin form was adapted to 'serrate', with the common adjectival suffix '-ed' appended to create 'serrated'. The semantic logic is beautifully transparent: the modern abstract meaning of 'having a jagged, tooth-like edge' is a direct metaphorical extension from the physical appearance of a saw's blade.
Analysis
Structure: serrat (saw) + ed (adjective suffix)
- serrat: From Latin serratus, meaning 'saw-shaped' or 'notched like a saw', from serra (saw).
- ed: An English suffix forming adjectives, often from past participles, indicating 'having the quality of'.
Examples
A serrated knife is best for cutting tomatoes.
The leaf had a deeply serrated margin.
He used the serrated edge of the tool to cut through the rope.