geometric

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin geōmetricus (“of geometry, geometrical”),^[2][3][4] from Ancient Greek γεωμετρικός (geōmetrikós),^[2][5][6] from γεωμέτρης (geōmétrēs, “geometer”) and the suffix -ικός (-ikós).^[2][6] Merriam-Webster and the Shorter Oxford also name Middle French geometrique as a source,^[4][3] and the Oxford Dictionary of English takes the word as coming through French.^[7] The early noun sense, geometry, is from geōmetrica, short for ars geōmetrica (“geometric art”), after a corresponding use of the Greek feminine adjective.^[2] Etymonline treats the adjective as a shortened form of the older geometrical,^[8] which is recorded from about 1392.^[2] The OED compares Spanish geométrico, Italian geometrico and German geometrisch.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, geometry: about 1547, in a rare use.^[2] The adjective, "of or relating to geometry", is first recorded in 1609 in the OED,^[2] in the 1620s in Etymonline^[8] and the mid 17th century in the Shorter Oxford;^[3] Merriam-Webster gives the 14th century.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The adjective took over the senses of geometrical.^[2] In mathematics it was used from 1696 of quantities in a constant ratio, as in a geometric progression, in contrast to arithmetic.^[2] Etymonline links this opposition to the fact that multiplication problems were once handled by geometry rather than by arithmetic.^[8] Later uses named styles: a symmetrical, formal style of gardening (1794),^[2] an early style of English Gothic architecture (1845),^[2] and the period of ancient Greek culture of about 900–700 BC known for its geometric pottery decoration (1877 in the OED, 1902 in Etymonline).^[2][8] From 1894 a geometric was also a geometric design or pattern.^[2]

Timeline

• 1547 – noun, geometry (rare).^[2]
• 1609 – of or relating to geometry.^[2]
• 1696 – mathematics, in a constant ratio, as in a geometric progression.^[2]
• 1794 – of a formal, symmetrical style of gardening.^[2]
• 1842 – of a design made of regular shapes.^[2]
• 1845 – of a style of English Gothic architecture.^[2]
• 1877 – of the Geometric period of ancient Greek culture.^[2][8]
• 1894 – noun, a geometric design or pattern.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Of, relating to, or following the methods and principles of geometry.^[9][4][2]
2. Of a design or ornament: made up of simple regular shapes such as circles, squares and triangles: a rug with a bold geometric pattern.^[9][2]
3. (mathematics) Increasing or decreasing by a constant ratio, as in a geometric progression; exponential.^[4][2]
4. (often capitalized) Of the period of ancient Greek culture, about 900–700 BC, marked by geometric decoration, especially on pottery.^[4][2][8]
5. (architecture) Of a style of English Gothic architecture before or alongside the Decorated style.^[2]

Noun

1. A geometric design, or a textile or rug decorated with one.^[4][2]

Word family

• geometrically
• geometrician
• protogeometric
• ungeometric
• nongeometric
• semigeometric
• geometric isomer

Related words

• geometer
• geometry
• geometrical
• geography
• meter
• metric

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 27 28 Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
6. ^ a b Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1961), Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam
7. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
9. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins