dissertate

verb

dis·​ser·​tate ˈdi-sər-ˌtāt 

dissertated; dissertating

intransitive verb

: dissert

also : to write a dissertation

dissertator

ˈdi-sər-ˌtā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

English speakers created the word dissert in the mid-17th century, but a single word for the concept was apparently not enough because "dissertate" appeared in the language less than a hundred years later. Both words descend from the Latin noun dissertus, which shares their meaning. ("Dissert" came directly from "dissertus," whereas "dissertate" came by way of "dissertatus," past participle of dissertare, meaning "to discuss, argue, or debate.") "Dissertus" itself traces back to the verb "disserere," formed by combining the prefix dis- and serere ("to place, arrange, or join together"). Other descendants of "serere" in English include "assert," "insert," and even "series."

Word History

Etymology

Latin dissertatus, past participle of dissertare, from dissertus

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dissertate

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

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