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.

168 / 256

noun

applause

uh-PLAWZ/əˈplɔːz/

Public approval or praise, especially expressed by clapping.

Warm applause fills the hall as the musicians take their bows.

Two smiling audience members clap toward a violinist taking a bow, making both the physical clapping and its approving purpose visible.

Etymology

apLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+plauseLatinclap or strike together

The Latin pieces describe clapping directed toward someone in approval. English first used the word for praise or commendation, before the literal hand-clapping sense became established.

In context

Monks Jazz Club46:58

give some hype in the chat all the clap emojis and the fire emojis and all those things that's really the new currency for social media applause

Chloe Youtsey & Andre Hayward Quintet - Livestream

More examples

The speech drew applause from across the political spectrum.
Her performance ended with sustained applause.
He waited for the applause to fade before speaking.

Similar words

ovation: Especially enthusiastic, prolonged public applause or cheering.
praise: Approval expressed in words rather than necessarily clapping.