maculate

The story

1. Latin · derived frommaculātus
2. Middle English · inherited frommaculaten“to spoil, polute”
3. English todaymaculate

First attested during the last quarter of the 15th century, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English maculaten (“to spoil, polute”), borrowed from Latin maculātus, perfect passive participle of maculō (“to spot”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

Words from the same roots