What is the root word for category?

The root word for "category" is cate or categor. It comes from the Greek word κατηγορία (kategoria), which means "accusation" or "predicate".

While "category" might seem like a more general term these days, its origin hints at the idea of sorting and classifying things based on shared characteristics, much like how an accusation would place someone in a specific category of wrongdoer.