DictionaryRoot: sub-
Latin
sub-
under; up from under; subordinate or lesser
Forms
- sub-
- suc- — Used before c in Latin.
- suf- — Used before f in Latin.
- sug- — Used before g in Latin.
- sum- — Used before m in Latin.
- sup- — Used before p in Latin.
- sur- — Used before r in Latin.
- su- — Used before s in some Latin compounds.
- sus- — A historical Latin variant associated with the longer form subs-.
Origin
Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *upo, ‘under; up from below.’
Note
An upward action can start underneath something, so ‘under’ and ‘up’ need not conflict.
67 / 101

verb
suffocate
SUF-uh-kayt/ˈsʌfəkeɪt/
To deprive someone of breathable air.
Etymology
The “up” and “throat” pieces express the original image “narrow up”: constricting the passage for air. That choking image underlies the sense of dying, or causing death, through lack of air.
Related word entries
- insufficient
- insupportable
- presupposition
- resuscitate
- resuscitation
- sojourn
- souvenir
- subaltern
- subdivide
- subdue
- subjectTopic
- subjectLiable to be affected
- subjection
- subjective
- subjugate
- subjugation
- subjunctive
- sublingual
- submerge
- submerse
- submersion
- submissionYielding to control
- submissionItem presented for consideration
- submitYield to authority
- submitPresent for consideration
- subordinate
- subordination
- suborn
- subornation
- subscribeAgreement with a belief
- subscribeRegular receipt or access
- subscribeFinancial contribution
- subscriptionPledged financial support
- subscriptionRegular access or supply
- subscriptionDocument signing
- subsequent
- subservient
- subside
- subsist
- subsistence
- substance
- substitute
- substitution
- substrateSubstance acted on
- substrateUnderlying support
- subtle
- subtlety
- subtract
- subtraction
- suburb
- subversion
- subvert
- succeedTaking over a position
- succeedAchieving a goal
- success
- succession
- successive
- successor
- succinct
- succor
- succubus
- suffer
- sufferance
- suffice
- sufficient
- suffix
- suffocate
- suffocation
- suggest
- suggestionProposed idea
- suggestionSlight indication
- summon
- summons
- supplant
- supplement
- supplicant
- supplicate
- supplication
- supply
- support
- supposition
- suppository
- suppress
- suppression
- suppurate
- surreptitious
- surrogacy
- surrogate
- susceptible
- suspect
- suspendTemporary stopping
- suspendHanging
- suspense
- suspensionVehicle support system
- suspensionTemporary stopping
- suspensionUndissolved particle mixture
- suspicionSlight trace
- suspicionUnproven belief
- sustainKeep going
- sustainSuffer harm
- sustenance