Separate and separate are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words separate and separate, where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences.
Separate (SEP rut) is an adjective that describes two or more things that are not joined together, that are independent of each other, that are distinctly different. The adverb form is separately; the noun form is separateness. Separate is one of the one thousand most frequently used words in the English language according to the Oxford English Dictionary and comes from the Latin word separatus, meaning to pull apart.
Separate (SEP uh rate) is a verb that means to move two or more things apart, to divide a group of something or to create a barrier between two or more things. Related words are separates, separated, separating, separation. Separate is also derived from the Latin word separatus.
Examples
An investigation into the accusations has been delayed after 40 separate complaints of racism were received. (The Daily Star)
Two separate incidents of alleged manhandling of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) staffers while exposing power thefts has been reported in Aurangabad and Hingoli districts of Marathwada. (The Times of India)
But state Sen. Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, who is not seeking reelection Tuesday, told the BND two years ago that Southern Illinois residents who want to separate from Chicago are not upset about the amount of money they receive. (The Belleville News-Democrat)
Kelly McParland: You can’t separate Trump’s policies from the man (The National Post)