Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “actuate” come from?

Actuate comes from Medieval Latin actuatus, past participle of Latin actuo, derived from Latin actus (done, driven) and the verb agere (to drive, act), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- (to drive or move).

actuate (English): To activate, or to put into motion; to animate;...

Definitions

  1. To activate, or to put into motion; to animate;...

Ancestry of “actuate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinactuatusactuated
2LatinactuoI actuate, activate, implement
3Latinactusmade, done, having been done; act, action, doing,...
4LatinagoI act, I behave; I do or make continuously or...
5Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “actuate”

  • actuation
  • underactuation
  • actuateth
  • reactuate
  • actuatable
  • actuatest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →