Propagate - Word of the Day

[Merriam-Webster]( WORD OF THE DAY [September 7, 2017](#none) propagate [Audio pronunciation]( verb | PRAH-puh-gayt Definition 1 : to reproduce or cause to reproduce biologically : [multiply]( 2 : to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : [extend]( 3 : to pass along to offspring 4 : to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (such as an idea or belief) : [publicize]( Scroll down for more about propagate WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE [Trend Watch: Total Eclipse]( Dictionary vs. Headline News [PLAY NOW]( Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try! [TAKE ME THERE [>]]( Plus: [SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW! [>]]( Did You Know? The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of [horticulture](. The word was borrowed into English in the 16th century from Latin propagatus, the past participle of the verb propagare, which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." Propagare, in turn, derives from propages, meaning "layer (of a plant), slip, offspring." It makes sense, therefore, that the earliest uses of propagate referred to facilitating reproduction of a plant or animal. Nowadays, however, the meaning of propagate extends to the "reproduction" of something intangible, such as an idea or belief. Incidentally, [propaganda]( also comes to us from propagare, although it took a somewhat different route into English. Examples of PROPAGATE "It is always observable that silence propagates itself, and that the longer talk has been suspended, the more difficult it is to find any thing to say." — Samuel Johnson, The Adventurer, 25 Aug. 1753 "… Jonathan Anderson … wonders if he could propagate a honeysuckle-scented yellow azalea that is blooming around an early Georgian garden temple…." — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, August 2017 Test Your Vocabulary Fill in the blanks to complete a word for a place from which a specified type of person or thing propagates: _ em _ n _ _ y. [VIEW THE ANSWER [>]]( ASK THE EDITOR Is it 'I Could Care Less' or 'I Couldn't Care Less'? If you don't care about something, do you say "I couldn't care less" or "I could care less"? Editor Kory Stamper weighs in. [WATCH OUR VIDEO NOW [>]]( MORE WORD FUN: [WORD GAMES [>]]( [TRENDING NOW [>]]( [WORDS AT PLAY [>]]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( SHARE: [Facebook][Facebook]( [Twitter][Twitter]( [View this email in a web browser]( You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. [Unsubscribe from Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day]( [Manage your subscription settings]( Merriam-Webster, Inc. 47 Federal Street P.O. Box 281 Springfield, MA 01102 [www.merriam-webster.com](