rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: ad-
Latin

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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Two lovers meet quietly in a secluded garden at night, glancing around to make sure their private meeting remains secret.
noun

assignation

as-ig-NAY-shun/ˌæsɪɡˈneɪʃn/

A secret meeting, especially between lovers.

Etymology
asLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis
+signLatinmark, indicate, or designate
+ationLatinan action, process, or result

From marking out or allotting something, assignation developed the sense of an appointment. This became a meeting by arrangement, especially a lovers’ tryst—the bridge to the secret romantic meeting meant today.

Full entry

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