An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) A suffix used in chemical terminology, in particular to indicate a salt of an acid ending in -ic and not beginning with → hydro-, such as silicate, nitrate, sulfate.
2) Verbal suffix denoting "to act upon" (in a specific way), "to cause to become."

1) From M.E. -aten, from L. -atus p.p. ending of 1st conjugable verbs.
2) Very likely from N.L. expressions as plumbum acetatum salt produced by the action of acetic acid on lead.