suffix
[Language: Latin;Origin: -atus]
[in adjectives]
full of or showing a particular quality
　affectionate (=showing love)
[in verbs]
to make something have a particular quality
　activate (=make something start working)
　regulate (=control something or make it regular)
[in nouns]
a group of people with particular duties
　the electorate (=voters)
[in nouns]
the job, rank, or degree of a particular type of person
　She was awarded her doctorate (=PhD) .
[in nouns]
a chemical salt formed from a particular acid
　phosphate
>-ately [ɪtli/