measure

measure
\ \ [13] The distant ancestor of English measure was the Indo-European base *ma-, *me- ‘measure’. This has generated a wide range of often unexpected English progeny, including mealrepast’, month, and moon. Measure itself comes from an extension of the base, *mat-, *met-, from which was derived the Latin verb mētīrīmeasure’. Its past participial stem mēnsformed the basis of the noun mēnsūrameasure’, which passed into English via Old French mesure as measure. From the same Latin stem come commensurate [17], dimension [14], and immense [15] (literally ‘unmeasurable’); and other related forms that go back to the base *mat-, *met- (or *med-) include matefriend’, meat, meditate, meetsuitable’, mete, mode, moderate, modest, and modify.
\ \ Cf.COMMENSURATE, DIMENSION, IMMENSE, MATE, MEAL, MEAT, MEDITATE, MEET, METE, METRE, MODE, MODERATE, MODEST, MONTH, MOON

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • measure — meas ure (m[e^]zh [ u]r; 135), n. [OE. mesure, F. mesure, L. mensura, fr. metiri, mensus, to measure; akin to metrum poetical measure, Gr. me tron, E. meter. Cf. {Immense}, {Mensuration}, {Mete} to measure.] 1. A standard of dimension; a fixed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • measure — [mezh′ər] n. [ME mesure < OFr < L mensura < mensus, pp. of metiri, to measure < IE base * mē , to measure > MEAL1, Sans mātrā, a measure, Gr metron] 1. the extent, dimensions, capacity, etc. of anything, esp. as determined by a… …   English World dictionary

  • Measure K — is an ordinance put on the city of Santa Cruz s annual ballot on November 6, 2006. It s purpose was to give marijuana violations the lowest priority for local law enforcement. All other offenses besides adult marijuana offenses were put to a… …   Wikipedia

  • Measure — Meas ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Measured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Measuring}.] [F. mesurer, L. mensurare. See {Measure}, n.] 1. To ascertain by use of a measuring instrument; to compute or ascertain the extent, quantity, dimensions, or capacity of, by a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • measure — ► VERB 1) determine the size, amount, or degree of (something) by comparison with a standard unit. 2) be of (a specified size). 3) (measure out) take an exact quantity of. 4) (measure up) reach the required or expected standard. ► NOUN 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • measure — I noun act, bill, caveat, declaration, decree, dictate, edict, enactment, law, legislation, legislative enactment, legislative mandate, legislative proclamation, mandate, piece of legislation, prescript, prescription, proposal, proposed act,… …   Law dictionary

  • measure — [n1] portion, scope admeasurement, admensuration, allotment, allowance, amount, amplification, amplitude, area, bang, breadth, bulk, capacity, degree, depth, dimension, distance, duration, extent, fix, frequency, height, hit, magnitude, mass,… …   New thesaurus

  • measure up to — measure up (to (someone/something)) to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else. The math skills of the majority of children in this school measure up to the national standards. Usage notes: often used in a negative way: They …   New idioms dictionary

  • measure up — (to (someone/something)) to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else. The math skills of the majority of children in this school measure up to the national standards. Usage notes: often used in a negative way: They didn t… …   New idioms dictionary

  • Measure — Meas ure, v. i. 1. To make a measurement or measurements. [1913 Webster] 2. To result, or turn out, on measuring; as, the grain measures well; the pieces measure unequally. [1913 Webster] 3. To be of a certain size or quantity, or to have a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • measure of — To be the (or a) standard by which to judge the quality, etc of ● measure …   Useful english dictionary

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