Etymologists Concern Crossword Clue

We think the answer is "ROOT" which means:

noun
• • (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
• • The place where something begins, where it springs into being
• • (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
• • A number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number
• • The set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation
• • Someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
• • A simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
• • The embedded part of a bodily structure such as a tooth, nail, or hair
verb
• • Take root and begin to grow
• • Come into existence, originate
• • Cheer for
• • Plant by the roots
• • Dig with the snout
• • Become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
• • Cause to take roots

An example sentence would be:

• • "The root of the tree grew deep into the ground."
• • "She pulled out the weeds by their roots."

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