geometric
Pronunciation
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
- Of, relating to, or following the methods and principles of geometry.[9][4][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]
- (mathematics) Increasing or decreasing by a constant ratio, as in a geometric progression; exponential.[4][2]
- (often capitalized) Of the period of ancient Greek culture, about 900–700 BC, marked by geometric decoration, especially on pottery.[4][2][8]
- (architecture) Of a style of English Gothic architecture before or alongside the Decorated style.[2]
Noun
Word family
- geometrically
- geometrician
- protogeometric
- ungeometric
- nongeometric
- semigeometric
- geometric isomer
Related words
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
- ^ a b Gove, Philip Babcock, ed. (1961), Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam
- ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins