ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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noun

appointment

uh-POINT-munt/əˈpɔɪntmənt/

An arranged meeting at a particular time.

The visitor arrives for his appointment at the meeting table.

An older man arrives for a scheduled consultation as a middle-aged man welcomes him to a small meeting table.

Etymology

apLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+pointOld Frenchpoint

+mentOld Frenchan action, state, or result

The underlying phrase “to the point” led to the idea of agreeing or settling something. An appointment was an agreement or the fixing of a date, connecting it directly with an arranged meeting.

In context

BMJ Learning4:53

if I make an appointment I don't expect to be kept waiting for half an hour

Motivational interviewing in brief consultations | BMJ Learning

More examples

She scheduled a dental appointment.
He missed the appointment because of traffic.
Several appointments were available next week.

Forms

appointment · appointments

Similar words

meeting: An arranged gathering that may involve several people.
engagement: An arranged commitment at a particular time.