Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
ARTICULATE
I. adjective
Etymology: Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus
Date: 1586
1. divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged ; intelligible , able to speak, expressing oneself readily, clearly, or effectively ,
2. consisting of segments united by joints ; jointed , distinctly marked off, articulately adverb articulateness noun
II. verb (-lated; -lating)
Date: 1551
transitive verb
1. to give clear and effective utterance to ; put into words , to utter distinctly , to give definition to (as a shape or object) , to give shape or expression to (as a theme or concept) ,
2. to unite by or as if by means of a joint ; joint , to form or fit into a systematic whole , intransitive verb to utter articulate sounds, to become united or connected by or as if by a joint, articulative adjective articulator noun