amate

1 of 3

transitive verb (1)

-ed/-ing/-s

archaic

: to cast down : dishearten, subdue

amate

2 of 3

transitive verb (2)

-ed/-ing/-s

obsolete

: to be a mate to : match

amate

3 of 3

noun

ama·te

äˈmätē

plural -s

: a Central American timber tree (Ficus glabrata) with lustrous foliage and edible fruits

Word History

Etymology

Transitive verb (1)

Middle English amaten, from Middle French amatir, from Old French, from a- (from Latin ad-) + matir to overcome, from mat defeated, overcome

Transitive verb (2)

a- (perfective prefix) + mate (to couple, match)

Noun

Spanish, from Nahuatl amatl, short for amacuahuitl, literally, paper tree, from amatl paper + cuahuitl tree

First Known Use

Transitive Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Transitive Verb (2)

1578, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of amate was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Amate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

amate

transitive verb (1)

transitive verb (2)

noun

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near amate