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par·take

(pär-tāk)

v. par·took (-tk), par·tak·en (-tākən), par·tak·ing, par·takes

v.intr.

1. To take or have a part or share; participate: partake in the celebration.

2. To take or be given part or portion: The guests partook of a delicious dinner.

3. To share some of the properties of something else: "Each tale partakes of its creator's poetic imagination" (Charles Scribner III).

v.tr.

Archaic To take or have a part in; share in.

[Back-formation from partaker, one who partakes, from Middle English part-taker (translation of Latin particeps, participant).]

par·taker n.

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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