in modern english we sometimes say that a person who has been criticized or humiliated has been "put down." given that clue, what do you think the linguistic great, great grandparent of "humiliate" meant?
a. sleep
b. fall
c. compliment
d. ground
key
[d] the great, great grandparent of "humiliate" was the latin word "humus," which meant "earth" or "ground." from "humus" came the latin adjective "humilis," meaning "low" or "humble," which later gave rise to the verb "humiliare," meaning "to make low or humble." that latin verb is the parent word that gave us the english term "humiliate." when someone has been "humiliated," it sometimes seems as if the person has been forced to the ground or made to bow down in front of someone else. remembering that imaginary "put down" can help you recall the origins of "humiliate."
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