Definition of terminate

The word "terminate" derives from the Latin verb "terminare," which means "to mark the boundary or limit of." This verb, in turn, is composed of the prefix "ter" (meaning "boundary") and the verb "minare" (meaning "to mark"). In Latin, the noun form of "terminare" is "terminus," which refers to a boundary or limit. In Middle English, the word "terminen" (meaning "to define the boundaries of a land") borrowed the etymology of "terminare" and "terminus." In Early Modern English, "terminate" began to take on a different meaning, referring to the act of ending or bringing to a close. It's possible that this new sense of the word was influenced by the Latin-derived verb "terminare," which, in legal contexts, came to mean "to mark the end of" or "to bring to a close." Today, "terminate" is commonly used in English, both in legal and non-legal contexts, to refer to the act of ending or bringing to a close. Its Latin roots are still evident in its meaning, as it implicitly carries the sense of marking a boundary or limit in the act of ending something.