ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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verb

accelerate

uhk-SEL-uh-rayt/əkˈseləreɪt/

To become faster or make something faster.

The cyclist accelerates along the clear path, pedaling harder to gain speed.

A cyclist pedals harder and speeds up on a clear path, increasing spacing between subtle earlier-position traces conveys becoming faster.

Etymology

acLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+celerateLatinto hasten

The core meaning is “to hasten,” with a prefix that can add emphasis. This covers both making something quicker and moving or happening faster oneself.

In context

NDSUExtension22:07

it can give you a little bit more heat in the fall to accelerate the growth and like a blanket it gives you about three four degrees of protection from frost

Extending the Growing Season and Putting the Garden to Bed

More examples

Better equipment accelerated the repairs.
The runners begin to accelerate near the finish.
The town's growth is accelerating as new factories open.

Forms

accelerate · accelerates · accelerated · accelerating

Similar words

hasten: Makes an event happen sooner without necessarily increasing speed.
quicken: Often describes an increase in pace or bodily rhythm.