Friday, 3 October 2014

Ablactate

Word of the Day for Friday 3rd October 2014

Ablactate \ab-LAK-teyt\

Verb
1. To wean.
Quotes
His style, however, has found imitators; especially of late years, since the rage commenced of disfiguring and debasing our language by innovation. Such writers, instead of brittle, would say fragile; instead of fruitfulness, feracity; and humectate, steril, desiderate, ablactate, indigitate, etc. instead of moisten, barren, desire (or wish for), wean, point out, etc.
-- James Beattie, The Works of James Beattie, LL.D., Vol. IV, 1809
Origin
Ablactate entered English in the 1700’s and combines the Latin prefix ab- meaning "from" or "away," and lac meaning "milk."

Thanks to: www.dictionary.com

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