rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: agere
Latin

agere

drive, set in motion; do

Forms

  • ag-
  • act- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘done.’
  • -ig- — Used in some Latin compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ag-, ‘drive; lead.’

Note

A root for driving things forward also came to describe performing an action.

24 / 26
adjective

retroactive

ret-roh-AK-tiv/ˌretrəʊˈæktɪv/

Taking effect from a date before being introduced or announced.

The stamp's backward reach across the calendar represents a retroactive effect.

A blank calendar with a present stamp extending backward over earlier leaves, no letters or numbers.
Etymology
retroLatinbackward
+activeLatindrive, set in motion; do

The pieces express driving or turning something backward. A retroactive rule turns its effect backward in time, applying to circumstances that occurred before the rule took effect.

In context

Longmont Public Media274:12
it was approved and then the structure was converted it was not a retroactive request I think this is actually great
Planning and Zoning August 26, 2020

More examples

  • The committee approves a retroactive correction to the charges.
  • The new rule has no retroactive effect.
  • She receives retroactive benefits for the earlier eligible period.

Forms

retroactive

Similar words

retrospective
Retrospective looks back; retroactive changes how earlier events are treated.
backdated
Backdated assigns an earlier date; retroactive makes a provision effective for an earlier period.