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dec·o·rate

(dĕkə-rāt′)

tr.v. dec·o·rat·ed, dec·o·rat·ing, dec·o·rates

1. To furnish, provide, or adorn with something ornamental; embellish.

2. To confer a medal or other honor on: was decorated for bravery.

[From Middle English decorat, made beautiful, from Latin decorātus, past participle of decorāre, to beautify, from decus, decor-, honor, ornament; see dek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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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