rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: planus
Latin

planus

flat, level, or plain

Forms

  • planus
  • plan- — Used before other endings.

Origin

From an older Indo-European family associated with flatness or breadth.

Note

A level surface supplied a model for simplicity and clarity.

7 / 8
A black acoustic grand piano with lid raised revealing strings and hammers, keyboard clearly visible, isolated on white ground, no brand or lettering.
noun

piano

pee-AN-oh/piˈænəʊ/

A keyboard instrument whose strings are struck by hammers.

Etymology
pianoLatinflat, level, or plain

Latin planus shifted from “flat, smooth” to “soft.” Piano shortens a name meaning “soft and loud,” referring to the instrument’s ability to vary loudness.

Full entry

Related word entries