addere

Addere is a Latin verb meaning to add, to place together, or to attach. In classical Latin it covers both the act of adding objects or quantities and the mathematical operation of addition. The sense can extend to appending or supplementing something to another thing, such as adding a statement to a document or a component to a whole.

Etymology and background: Addere is formed with the prefix ad- meaning to or toward, combined with a root related to dare, “to give.” The compound conveys the idea of bringing something to another thing. The verb has given rise to related Latin nouns such as additio “an addition” and addendum “something to be added.”

Grammar and principal parts: Addere is traditionally treated as a third-conjugation verb. Its principal parts are addō, addere, addidī, additum. These form the standard Latin tenses in the usual three classes of endings, with the present tense derived from the add- stem, the perfect from addidī, and the supine/additum used to form supine constructions and passive expressions.

Usage and context: In Latin texts, addere is used with accusative objects to indicate what is being added. It appears in mathematical passages to describe the operation of addition and in prose for figurative or literal “joining” or “attaching.” The form is productive in both simple and compound expressions, sometimes with numerals or noun phrases indicating the elements being combined.

Influence and derivatives: The root of addere appears in a number of English and Romance-language terms related to adding or attachment. English derivatives include add, addition, additive, addend, and addendum, among others, reflecting the long-standing influence of Latin on Western scholarly and mathematical vocabulary.

See also:

- Addition

- Addend

- Addendum

- Additive