What is the Latin word for prepare?

The usual Latin words for “prepare” are parō, apparō, praeparō; also comparō, struō, īnstruō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“prepare” in Latin

parōto arrange, order, contrive, design; to provide, furnish, prepare; to resolve, purpose, decide apparōto prepare or make ready for something, put in order, provide, furnish, equip, organize; to provide or equip in addition praeparōto get ready, prepare comparōto prepare, get ready, provide, furnish; to compare, match, place together, couple, form into pairs struōto place one thing on top of another, to pile up, join together; to compose, construct, build; to ready, prepare, devise īnstruōto build in or into, insert; erect, construct; to arrange, organise or organize, plan; devise; to prepare (for), provide adōrnōto get ready, furnish, equip, provide, fit out; to decorate, ornament, adorn, embellish concinnōTo prepare or make ready; To repair or touch up compōnōto arrange, compile, compose, make up, organize, order; to construct, build; to pacify, allay, settle, calm, appease, qu mōliorto strive, endeavor, work at; to put in motion, shake, move; to rouse, bestir

The English word prepare itself goes back to Latin parō, through praeparo.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

prepare

parare (to get anything in readiness; also to provide): apparare (to make preparations for; e.g., bellum, convivium): praeparare (provide beforehand; animum or se ad aliquid; aures auditorum: also of food; ova, Mart.): comparare (to prepare for anything by bringing together all that is requisite; also to provide or procure; also of preparing a snare for anybody, insidias alicui or in aliquem): struere: instruere: comparare (to prepare maliciously; plots, sorrow, misfortune): adornare (furnish with what is necessary, equip, etc.; e.g., naves): concinnare (prepare scientifically; as wines, skins, etc.): componere (prepare by compounding ingredients, medicines): moliri (by the application of force; to prepare something bad): machinari (to plot or hatch, by deceit, etc.). To prepare medicine, medicinam parare or facere: medicamentum concinnare: remedium salutare componere; a draught, medicamentum in poculo diluere; a banquet, ornare et apparare convivium; a sumptuous banquet, magnifice comparare convivium: to prepare to answer, comparare se ad respondendum.

To get ready for anything, praeparare se ad aliquid: se parare or comparare ad aliquid. (☞ Accingi, or se accingere ad, or in aliquid are not found in Cic. or Caes., but occur in Terence and Livy, and very often in Tac., ; a dative or an infinitive after this phrase is poetical). Often by praeparare or comparare aliquid: to prepare for his departure, praeparare profectionem (Suet.): to give anybody time to prepare, tempus ad comparandum dare; for a journey, comparare se ad iter: to prepare or be preparing for war, bellum parare, apparare, comparare, adornare, instruere; belli apparatum instruere; omnia, quae ad bellum pertinent providere: to prepare a lecture (at college), res in schola explicandas meditari (of the teacher): quae in schola audienda sunt praediscere ac meditari (of the pupil; Vid: Cic., De Or., 1, 32, 147): to prepare one’s self for the university, se praeparare ad studia academica: to prepare one for anything, aliquem praemonere de aliqua re (to warn beforehand): alicujus animum ad aliquid componere or praeparare (to bring one into a due state of mind): I was prepared for it, aliquid mihi non imparate accidit: to prepare one’s self for anything, se praeparare ad aliquid (general term): parare or apparare aliquid (to make preparations for): praeparationem adhibere in aliqua re; animum praeparare ad aliquid; se, or animum, componere ad aliquid (to make up one’s mind to): meditari aliquid (to study or practise beforehand): commentari aliquid (to think over, a speech, etc.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for prepare?: The usual Latin words for “prepare” are parō, apparō, praeparō; also comparō, struō, īnstruō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.