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re·late (rĭ-lāt)
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v. re·lat·ed, re·lat·ing, re·lates
v.tr.
1. To give an account of (an occurrence, for example); narrate. See Synonyms at describe.
2. To establish or demonstrate a connection between: I related his grumpiness to a lack of sleep.
v.intr.
1. To have connection, relation, or reference: how education relates to income; a question relating to foreign policy.
2. To have or establish a social relationship; interact: She relates well to her peers.
3. To understand or react favorably to someone or something: I just can't relate to these new fashions.
Phrasal Verb:
relate back
Law To treat as accomplished on an earlier date although actually done on a later date.
[Obsolete French relater, from Old French, from Latin relātus, past participle of referre : re-, re- + lātus, brought; see telə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
re·later n.
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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