Webster's English Dictionary

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isolate

iso.late \'i--s*-.la-t, 'is-*-\ vb [back-formation fr. isolated set apart, 
   fr. F isole`, fr. It is]olato, fr. isola island, fr. L insula 1: to set 
   apart from others; also : QUARANTINE  2: to select from among others; esp : 
   to separate from another sub stance so as to obtain pure or in a free state 
   3: INSULATE  : to cause something to be isolated