vaccinate
UK: ˈvæksɪneɪt | US: ˈvæksəneɪt
vt. to administer a vaccine to stimulate immunity against a disease
vi. to receive a vaccine for immunization
vaccinate = vaccin<cow> + ate<verb suffix>
- vaccin: Derived from Latin vacca (cow), referencing the cowpox virus used in early smallpox vaccines.
- ate: A verb-forming suffix indicating action (e.g., "activate," "isolate").
Etymology Origin:
The term traces back to Edward Jenner’s 18th-century discovery that cowpox (Latin vaccinia) could immunize humans against smallpox. The root vacca (cow) reflects this agricultural origin, while -ate standardizes it as a medical verb. Over time, "vaccinate" expanded to cover all immunization methods, retaining its core logic of disease prevention.
Doctors vaccinate children against measles and polio.
The government plans to vaccinate the entire population by year-end.
She hesitated to vaccinate her pet due to safety concerns.
Travelers are advised to vaccinate before visiting tropical regions.
Modern technology allows scientists to vaccinate using mRNA platforms.