'Participate' is Latin for 'to take a part' — from 'pars' (part) + 'capere' (to seize). Grab your share.
To take part in an activity or event; to share or have a part in something.
From Latin 'participātus,' past participle of 'participāre' (to share in, to partake, to receive a share of), from 'particeps' (sharing, partaking, a partner), a compound of 'pars' / 'partis' (a part, share, portion) + '-ceps' / 'capere' (to take, seize, grasp), from PIE *keh₂p- (to grasp, take). The PIE root *keh₂p- is unusually prolific: it yields 'capable,' 'capacity,' 'captive,' 'capture,' 'catch,' 'chase,' 'accept,' 'conceive,' 'deceive,' 'perceive,' 'receive,' and 'occupy.' The other component, 'pars' (part, share),
The grammatical term 'participle' comes from the same roots — Latin 'participium' (a sharing, partaking), because a participle 'takes part in' or 'shares' the nature of both a verb and an adjective. It 'participates' in two word classes simultaneously, which is why it was given the name 'participle.'