rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: centrum
Latin

centrum

center or central point

Forms

  • centrum
  • centr- — Used before other endings.

Origin

Borrowed from Greek kentron, “sharp point,” including the fixed point of a drawing instrument.

Note

The point used to draw a circle became the name for its middle.

4 / 7
A ball on a string moves around a center; one clear arrow points inward toward the hand.
adjective

centripetal

sen-TRIP-ih-tul/senˈtrɪpɪtl/

Directed toward a center or axis of rotation.

Etymology
centriLatincenter or central point
+petalLatinseek, aim at; request

The components picture something “seeking the center”: petere supplies the idea of heading toward a goal. Here that goal is a central point, giving the adjective its inward-directed meaning.

Full entry

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