assimilatory
|as-si-mil-a-to-ry|
🇺🇸
/əˈsɪməˌleɪtəri/
🇬🇧
/əˈsɪmɪlətəri/
make similar / cause assimilation
Etymology
'assimilatory' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'assimilare', where 'ad-' (assimil-) meant 'to, toward' and 'similis' meant 'like'.
'assimilatory' developed from Latin 'assimilare' (to make like) into Medieval/Modern Latin and French forms (e.g. 'assimiler' in French), which entered English as the verb 'assimilate' and later formed the adjective 'assimilatory'.
Initially it meant 'to make like' or 'to render similar'; over time it came to be used as an adjective meaning 'serving to assimilate' and specifically in linguistics 'relating to assimilation of sounds'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
serving to assimilate; causing or promoting assimilation or incorporation into a larger group or system.
The policy had an assimilatory effect on minority communities, encouraging conformity to the dominant culture.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
relating to the process of assimilation in linguistics, where sounds or structures become more like neighboring sounds or structures.
The linguist described several assimilatory rules that explain how consonants change before certain vowels.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/03 15:26