con-, 强调。-stit, 站,词源同stand, institute. 即站立其中的,构成其中一部分的。
英语词源
constitute
constitute: [15] Etymologically, that which is constituted is that which is ‘caused to stand’ or ‘set up’. The word comes from the past participle of Latin constituere ‘fix, establish’, a compound verb formed from the intensive prefix com- and statuere ‘set up’ (source of English statute). This was a derivative of Latin status (whence English state and status), which itself began life as the past participle of stāre ‘stand’ (a relative of English stand). The derivative constituent [17] comes (partly via French) from the Latin present participle constituēns. => stand, statue, status, statute
constitute (v.)
mid-15c., verb use of adjective constitute, "made up, formed" (late 14c.), from Latin constitutus "arranged, settled," past participle adjective from constituere "to cause to stand, set up, fix, place, establish, set in order; form something new; resolve," of persons, "to appoint to an office," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + statuere "to set," from PIE root *sta- "to stand," with derivatives meaning "place or thing that is standing" (see stet). Related: Constituted; constituting.
权威例句
1. Volunteers constitute more than 95% of The Center's work force.
该中心95%以上的工作人员是志愿者.
2. Motherhood did not constitute much of an interruption to her career.
做母亲并没有在很大程度上中断她的事业。
3. Testing patients without their consent would constitute a professional and legal offence.
未经患者同意而对其进行检查被视为违反职业操守并触犯法律。
4. Does such an activity constitute a criminal offence?
难道这样的活动也算刑事犯罪吗?
5. These small nations constitute an important grouping within the EU.
【constitute, consist, compose, comprise, include】
这组词都有“组成,包含”的意思,其区别是:
constitute: v.构成,组成(整体)。
• Crime and illegal drugs constitute the city's major problems. 犯罪和非法毒品买卖是这个城市面临的主要问题。
consist: v.组成,构成,由……组成(后接of,常用于主动语态);(后接in)在于,存在于。
• The problem consists of two parts. 问题由两部分组成。
• The beauty of the plan consists in its simplicity. 这计划的好处就在于简单易行。
compose: v.构成(整体),组成;由……组成(后接of,常用于被动语态);创作(作曲、诗歌等)。
• The committee was composed mainly of teachers and parents. 委员会主要由教师和学生家长组成。
comprise: v.包含,包括,由……组成(整体);组成,构成。
• Our company's product line comprises 2,500 different items. 我们公司的生产线是由2,500个不同的组成部分构成的。
include: v.包括,包含,把……列入。
• The conference delegates included representatives from abroad. 大会代表中有来自海外的代表。