Meaning

verb expose to fresh air

verb aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter

verb impregnate, combine, or supply with oxygen

originEtymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewsér Proto-Hellenic *auhḗr Ancient Greek ᾱ̓ήρ (āḗr)bor. Latin aer Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English aerate From Latin aer (“air”) + English -ate. Compare French aérer.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0