Here's a quiz for all you etymology buffs. Can you pick the words from the following list that come from the same Latin root?
A. redaction B. prodigal C. agent D. essay
E. navigate F. ambiguous
If you guessed all of them, you are right. Now, for bonus points, name the Latin root that they all have in common. If you knew that it is the verb agere, meaning to "to drive, lead, act, or do," you get an A+. Redaction is from the Latin verb redigere ("to bring back" or "to reduce"), which was formed by adding the prefix red- (meaning "back") to agere. Some other agere offspring include act, agenda, cogent, litigate, chasten, agile, and transact.
Examples of redaction in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebIn court records, the state had argued the method was perhaps the most humane execution method ever and indicated the redactions were needed to maintain security.—Dakin Andone, CNN, 6 Aug. 2024 Paper copies without redactions, Foster said, can still be requested in person.—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2024 There’s a perverse wanting to know what’s behind the redaction.—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 July 2024 In the end, with Sommer clearly irritated that the jury was being forced to wait for the trial proper to start up, about half of the defense’s redactions, mainly the ones on Baldwin’s personal life, were permitted – though remarks about his wife coming to visit him in New Mexico were allowed.—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for redaction
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'redaction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French rédaction, from Late Latin redaction-, redactio act of reducing, compressing, from Latin redigere to bring back, reduce, from re-, red- re- + agere to lead — more at agent
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