"toothed, having tooth-like projections, notched," 1770, from Latin dentatus "toothed, having teeth," from dens (genitive dentis) "tooth," from PIE root *dent- "tooth." Related: Dentation (1802).
Entries linking to dentate
*dent-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "tooth."
It forms all or part of: al dente; dandelion; dental; dentifrice; dentist; dentition; denture; glyptodon; indent (v.1) "to make notches;" mastodon; orthodontia; periodontal; teethe; tooth; toothsome; tusk; trident.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit danta, Greek odontos (gen.), Latin dens, Lithuanian dantis, Old Irish det, Welsh dent, Old English toð, German Zahn, Gothic tunþus "tooth."