-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

253 / 291

adjective

spatial

SPAY-shul/ˈspeɪʃl/

Relating to space and how things are positioned within it.

The blocks demonstrate spatial relationships by standing above, beside, and behind each other.

Wooden geometric blocks arranged above, beside and behind one another, clear spatial relationships.

Etymology

spatiLatinroom, area, distance

+alLatinof, relating to

Spatium names room, area, or distance, so spatial concerns the extent things occupy and their positions relative to one another. It was formed as the space-related counterpart of temporal.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain41:45

we can know the sort of arrangement of physical objects which results from their spatial relations

1910s Philosophy: Bertrand Russell - The Problems of Philosophy (Audiobook)

More examples

The architect studies the spatial relationships between rooms.
Children develop spatial skills by building with blocks.
This map shows the spatial distribution of trees in the park.

Forms

spatially adverb — In relation to space or arrangement.

Similar words

positional: Focuses on a particular location rather than space generally.
geometric: Concerns shapes and measurements rather than physical arrangement generally.