Advertisement

erect (adj.)

late 14c., "upright, not bending," from Latin erectus "upright, elevated, lofty; eager, alert, aroused; resolute; arrogant," past participle of erigere "raise or set up," from e- "up, out of" + regere "to direct, keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").

erect (v.)

c. 1400, a back-formation from erect (adj.) or else from Latin erectus. Related: Erected; erecting.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Definitions of erect from WordNet
1
erect (v.)
construct, build, or erect;
Synonyms: raise / rear / set up / put up
erect (v.)
cause to rise up;
Synonyms: rear
2
erect (adj.)
upright in position or posture;
an erect stature
erect flower stalks
for a dog, an erect tail indicates aggression
Synonyms: vertical / upright
erect (adj.)
of sexual organs; stiff and rigid;
Synonyms: tumid
From wordnet.princeton.edu