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Added 10 October 2026

ligate

/ˈlɪɡeɪt/ verb

Latin root: ligātus First recorded: 1599 Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ligate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Join letters in a ligature when writing.
Bind chemically.
The enzyme ligated
Bind with a bandage or ligature.
ligate the artery

Origin

First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin ligātus, perfect passive participle of ligō (“to bind”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of legato. Compare league.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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