concatenate (2009-06-06)

Part of Speech: verb

Pronunciation: [kên-'kæ-tê-neyt or kên-'kæt-ê-neyt]

Definition: To link together, as in a chain.

Usage: Let's throw the phrase "surfing the Web" into a higher register (if not out altogether): "I'm making a concatenate series of informative stops on the Web, not browsing!" Or make your colleagues scramble for their YD look-up button with a oneupsmanship winner like this: "My life has been a concatenation of disasters/triumphs beginning shortly after birth." (Strike the inapplicable noun.) "Bill can't concatenate two words without misusing one but he refuses the help of yourDictionary.com."

Suggested Usage: The adjective means "to be linked together" and is pronounced [kên-'kæt-ê-nêt]. The noun is "concatenation."

Etymology: Late Latin concatenare, com- "with, together" + catenare "to bind" from Latin catena "chain." "Catena" is also the origin of English "chain," by the way, via French "chaîne."