The word 'ululate' has a direct and vivid lineage rooted in sound imitation. Its core morpheme, 'ulul-', originates from the Latin verb ululāre, which itself was likely formed to mimic the sound of a howling cry, such as that of an owl or a person wailing in mourning. This onomatopoeic element passed into English through the past participle form of the Latin verb. The addition of the productive English verbal suffix '-ate' completes the form, creating a verb that precisely describes the act of producing a loud, wavering, emotional cry. Thus, the word's journey is a clear example of a primal sound being captured in language and formally lexicalized.

Structure: ulul (howl) + ate (verb suffix) - ulul: From Latin ululāre, meaning 'to howl, shriek, or wail'. It is an onomatopoeic root imitating the sound of a howl. - ate: A suffix forming verbs, from Latin -ātus, indicating an action or process.