Where does “activate” come from?

Activate comes from Latin activus, derived from Latin agere meaning "to do" or "to drive," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-.

activate (English): To encourage development or induce increased...

Definitions

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	English	active	Having the power or quality of acting; causing...
2	Middle English	actyf	active, reactive
3	Old French	actif	active
4	Latin	āctīvus	active
5	Ancient Greek	ἐνεργητικός	Able to act on; acting on; Active; In the active...
6	Ancient Greek	ἐνεργέω	to be in action or activity, to operate; to...
7	Ancient Greek	ἐνεργός	at work, active
8	Ancient Greek	ἐν-	in, within; on
9	Ancient Greek	ἐν	in, on, at; among; in, at, or during the time of
10	Ancient Greek	δέρμα	skin, hide
11	Ancient Greek	γλυφή	carving, carved work; hole cut
12	Ancient Greek	-ῐ́ᾱ	{{l\|en\|-ia}}; "suffix forming abstract feminine...
13	Proto-Indo-European	-íh₂	—
14	Proto-Indo-European	-h₂	Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups...