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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verb

admit

ad-MIT/ədˈmɪt/

To acknowledge that something is true, often reluctantly.

She admits breaking the flowerpot while another adult listens.

A young adult beside a broken flowerpot owns up to breaking it, palm on chest, contrite expression, another adult listening.
Etymology

Ad- and mittere together yielded ‘let in’ or ‘allow.’ Acknowledging something as true extends that idea to argument: one allows a claim to stand as valid.

In context

Cornerstone Orlando55:19
In fact, now they have to admit, right, that a notable miracle has taken place. He's our son and he was born blind. They're scratching their heads. How then does he now see?
Give God The Glory (John 9:13-34)

More examples

  • He admitted that he had forgotten the appointment.
  • They have admitted their earlier mistake.
  • I am admitting that I need help.

Forms

admit · admits · admitted · admitting

Similar words

acknowledge
Can be neutral rather than reluctant or self-critical.
concede
Often acknowledges a point after disagreement or resistance.