- copulate (v.)
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- early 15c., "to join," from Latin copulatus, past participle of copulare "join together, couple, bind, link, unite," from copula "band, tie, link," from PIE *ko-ap-, from *ko(m)- "together" + *ap- (1) "to take, reach" (see apt). Sexual sense attested from 1630s. Related: Copulated; copulating.