the word "stratified" originates from the modern latin term stratificare, meaning "to form into layers." this verb itself is built upon the latin noun stratum, which denotes something spread out, such as a bed covering, a pavement, or a geological layer. the root stratum derives from the past participle of the verb sternere, "to spread out," which can be traced back to the proto-indo-european root sterh₃-, "to spread." the suffix "-fied" comes from the latin verbal suffix -ficare, indicating "to make." thus, the literal construction "made into layers" perfectly captures the modern meanings, whether describing geological formations or the structured tiers of a social hierarchy.

Structure: strat (layer) + i + fied (made, adjective suffix) strat (from latin stratum, meaning "a spread, layer, blanket"); i (a connecting vowel); fied (from latin -ficare, meaning "to make", via old french -fier, forming past participles/adjectives meaning "made into").