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promulgate

[prom-uh l-geyt, proh-muhl-geyt]
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verb (used with object), prom·ul·gat·ed, prom·ul·gat·ing.
  1. to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally or put into operation (a law, decree of a court, etc.).
  2. to set forth or teach publicly (a creed, doctrine, etc.).
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Origin of promulgate

1520–30; < Latin prōmulgātus, past participle of prōmulgāre to promulge; see -ate1
Related formsprom·ul·ga·tion [prom-uh l-gey-shuh n, proh-muh l-] /ˌprɒm əlˈgeɪ ʃən, ˌproʊ məl-/, nounprom·ul·ga·tor, nounnon·prom·ul·ga·tion, nounre·prom·ul·gate, verb (used with object), re·prom·ul·gat·ed, re·prom·ul·gat·ing.re·prom·ul·ga·tion, nounun·prom·ul·gat·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. announce, issue, declare. 2. advocate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for promulgate

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Are you going to promulgate that doctrine at the Suffrage League?

    Miss Pat at School

    Pemberton Ginther

  • It was for him to promulgate the Imperial laws, sometimes to put forth edicts of his own.

    Theodoric the Goth

    Thomas Hodgkin

  • No greater earnestness was ever given by man to promulgate a Gospel.

  • And as soon as he made this discovery he hastened to promulgate it.

    Cruel As The Grave

    Mrs. Emma D. E. N. Southworth

  • But the President and Secretary had no right to promulgate any such order.

British Dictionary definitions for promulgate

promulgate

verb (tr)
  1. to put into effect (a law, decree, etc), esp by formal proclamation
  2. to announce or declare officially
  3. to make widespread
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Also (archaic): promulge (prəʊˈmʌldʒ)
Derived Formspromulgation, nounpromulgator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin prōmulgāre to bring to public knowledge; probably related to provulgāre to publicize, from pro- 1 + vulgāre to make common, from vulgus the common people
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for promulgate

v.

1520s, from Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgare "make publicly known, propose openly, publish," perhaps altered from provulgare, from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + vulgare "make public, publish." Or the second element might be from mulgere "to milk" (see milk (n.)), used metaphorically for "cause to emerge." Related: Promulgated; promulgating. The earlier verb in English was promulge (late 15c.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper