-gate

-gate · suffix, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
2. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
3. Proto-Germanic*watōr
4. Proto-West Germanic*watar
5. Old Englishwæter
6. Middle Englishwater
7. Englishwater
8. Proto-Indo-European*gʰe(n)d-
9. Proto-Indo-European*gʰed-eti
10. Proto-Germanic*getaną
11. Proto-Germanic*gatą
12. Proto-West Germanic*gat
13. Old Englishġeat
14. Middle Englishgate
15. Englishgate
16. Proto-Indo-European*gʰóstis
17. Proto-Indo-European*pótis
18. Proto-Indo-European*gʰóstipotis
19. Proto-Italic*hostipotis
20. Latinhospes
21. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
22. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
23. Latinhospitālis
24. Old Frenchostel
25. Middle Frenchhostel
26. Frenchhôte
27. Englishhotel
28. EnglishWatergate Hotel
29. EnglishWatergatebf.
30. English today-gate

Back-formation from Watergate, an American political scandal from 1972–1974 which led to resignation of president Richard Nixon. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the suffix first appeared in a 1973 article in the National Lampoon magazine which referenced a rumoured "Volgagate". The suffix was promoted by New York Times columnist William Safire, who coined several -gate words beginning in 1974.

-gate · suffix²

1. Old English · inherited fromġeat
2. English today-gate

From the plural of Old English ġeat (specifically gatu). The reduced pronunciation /-ɡət/ reflects the regular phonological development, as the unstressed suffix did not undergo Middle English open‐syllable lengthening (remaining /-ɡatə/). The full pronunciation /-ɡeɪt/ results from secondary stress or analogy with the independent noun gate.

Words from the same roots