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ed·u·cate (ĕjə-kāt′)
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v. ed·u·cat·ed, ed·u·cat·ing, ed·u·cates
v.tr.
1. To develop the mental, moral, or social capabilities of, especially by schooling or instruction. See Synonyms at teach.
2. To provide with knowledge or training in a particular area or for a particular purpose: decided to educate herself in foreign languages; entered a seminary to be educated for the priesthood.
3. To provide with information, as in an effort to gain support for a position or to influence behavior: hoped to educate the voters about the need for increased spending on public schools.
4. To develop or refine (one's taste or appreciation, for example).
v.intr.
To teach or instruct a person or group.
[Middle English educaten, from Latin ēducāre, ēducātus; see deuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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