colligate

1 of 2

verb

col·​li·​gate ˈkä-lə-ˌgāt 

colligated; colligating

transitive verb

1

: to bind, unite, or group together

2

: to subsume (isolated facts) under a general concept

intransitive verb

: to be or become a member of a group or unit

colligation

ˌkä-lə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

colligation

2 of 2

noun

col·​li·​ga·​tion ˌkä-lə-ˈgā-shən 

plural -s

1

: connection, conjunction

2

: the act or process of colligating

the truth emerges spontaneously and directly from a sufficiently thorough colligation of particular instances

—Times Literary Supplement

Did you know?

Colligate descends from Latin colligare, itself from "com-" ("with") plus "ligare" ("to tie"). Which of the following words is NOT tied to "ligare"? "Ligature," "ligament," "lien," "rely," "ally," "oblige," "furl," and "league" (in the sense of "an association of persons, groups, or teams") can all be traced back along varying paths to "ligare." That leaves only "collocate," which means "to set side by side" and comes from "com-" plus locare, meaning "to place."

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin colligatus, past participle of colligare, from com- + ligare to tie — more at ligature

Noun

Latin colligation-, colligatio, from colligatus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

1545, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for colligate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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