domesticate

UK: dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt | US: dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt

Definition
  1. vt. to tame (an animal) and keep it for human use or companionship

  2. vt. to cultivate (a plant) for human purposes

  3. vt. to adapt (something) to home or everyday life

Structure
domestic <household>ate <verb suffix>
Etymology

The word "domesticate" traces back to the Latin domus (house), reflecting the historical process of bringing wild animals or plants into human households for utility or companionship. The suffix -ate transforms the noun "domestic" into a verb, emphasizing the active process of taming or adapting. This mirrors humanity's shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural and settled lifestyles.

Examples
  1. Farmers worked for centuries to domesticate wild grains into modern crops.

  2. Wolves were among the first animals humans domesticated.

  3. The scientist aims to domesticate this rare plant for medicinal use.

  4. Early civilizations domesticated animals for labor and food.

  5. Some argue that humans domesticated cats, while others believe cats domesticated themselves.