ambulatory
UK: /ˈæm.bjə.lə.tər.i/ | US: /ˈæm.bjə.lə.tɔːr.i/
adj. related to walking or moving about
adj. (medicine) capable of walking; not bedridden
n. a place for walking, such as a cloister or covered walkway
ambulatory = ambulat<walk> + ory<relating to>
- ambulat (from Latin ambulare, meaning "to walk")
- ory (adjective-forming suffix, from Latin -orius, indicating "relating to" or "pertaining to")
Etymology Origin:
The word ambulatory traces back to Latin ambulare ("to walk"), a frequentative form of ambire ("to go around"). The suffix -ory was added in Late Latin (ambulatorius) to form an adjective meaning "pertaining to walking." Over time, the term evolved in English to describe both the ability to walk (medical context) and architectural spaces designed for walking (e.g., cloisters). The logic is straightforward: the root ambulat- anchors the concept of movement, while -ory generalizes it into an adjective or noun.
After surgery, the patient was quickly ambulatory and able to leave the hospital.
The monastery’s ambulatory provided a peaceful space for meditation.
Ambulatory care focuses on treating patients who do not require hospitalization.
The museum’s ambulatory connects the old and new wings.
Birds are highly ambulatory creatures, adapting to diverse terrains.