ovate

ovate · adjective, noun¹

1. Latin · borrowed fromōvātus
2. English todayovate

Borrowed from Latin ōvātus, from ōvum (“an egg”) + -ātus; see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).

ovate · noun²

1. Proto-Celtic · derived from*wātis
2. English todayovate

Ultimately from a Celtic language, see Proto-Celtic *wātis.

ovate · verb³

1. Latin · borrowed fromovātus
2. English todayovate

Borrowed from Latin ovātus, perfect passive participle of ovō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

First known use, by meaning

• from 1760 Shaped like an egg.
• from 1871 An egg-shaped hand axe.
• from 1638 To give someone an ovation.
• from 1977 To applaud enthusiastically.