Origin: 1400–50;late Middle Englishventilatten to blow (something) away < Latinventilātus (past participle of ventilāre to fan), equivalent to vent(us) wind1 + -il- v. suffix (variant of -ul-, orig. after derivatives of nouns ending in -ulus-ule; cf. speculate) + -ātus-ate1
Related forms
ven·ti·la·ble, adjective
o·ver·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), o·ver·ven·ti·lat·ed, o·ver·ven·ti·lat·ing.
re·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), re·ven·ti·lat·ed, re·ven·ti·lat·ing.
self-ven·ti·lat·ed, adjective
un·der·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), un·der·ven·ti·lat·ed, un·der·ven·ti·lat·ing.
c.1440, "to blow away something" (of wind), from L. ventilatus, pp. of ventilare "to brandish, toss in the air, winnow, fan, agitate, set in motion," from ventulus "a breeze," dim. of ventus "wind" (see wind (n.)). Original notion is of cleaning grain by tossing it in the air
and letting the wind blow away the chaff. Meaning "supply a room with fresh air" first recorded 1664 (implied in ventilation). Slang sense of "to shoot" (someone) is recorded from 1875.