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reg·u·late

(rĕgyə-lāt′)

tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates

1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.

2. To adjust to a particular specification or requirement: regulate temperature.

3. To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.

4. To put or maintain in order: regulate one's eating habits.

[Middle English, from Late Latin rēgulāre, rēgulāt-, from Latin rēgula, rod, rule; see reg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

regu·la′tive, regu·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.

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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