-ate²

Forming adjectives.

Latin ‑atus, ‑ata, ‑atum.

A wide variety of adjectives have been formed from Latin words in these endings; they include accurate, affectionate, desperate, effeminate, legitimate, literate, ornate, roseate, and temperate. Many, such as elaborate, moderate, prostrate, sedate, and separate, can also be verbs (see the next entry) though then said with shifted stress; others, such as associate and duplicate, commonly also appear as both nouns and verbs. A few, such as aspirate, now a noun and verb, came into the language as adjectives, but are so no longer.