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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noun / verb

approach

uh-PROHCH/ʌprˈoʊtʃ/

Movement along a route toward a destination.

The man approaches the park bench where his companion waits.

An older man walks toward a park bench, still a few steps away, where another man sits facing him.

Etymology

apLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+proachLatinto come nearer

The pieces combine direction toward something with coming nearer. The modern movement sense preserves that original spatial idea: approaching means reducing the distance between yourself and someone or something.

In context

Ready2Interview12:50

I would approach them quietly and remind them of the exam rules.

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More examples

The team tries a different approach to the problem.
The northern approach to the village follows the river.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

Forms

approach · approaches · approached · approaching

Similar words

near: Comes closer, often as time or distance decreases.
advance: Moves forward, not necessarily toward the specified object.