Where does “central” come from?

Central derives from Latin centrālis, formed with the Latin suffix -ālis from Ancient Greek κέντρον, which comes from the verb κεντεῖν meaning to prick or goad, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱent-.

central (English): Being in the centre; Having or containing the...

Definitions

  1. Being in the centre; Having or containing the...

Ancestry of “central”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishcentralcentral; headquarter; center
2Latincentrāliscentral, in the middle
3Latincentrumcenter
4Ancient GreekκέντρονSomething with a sharp point: point, spike, spur;...
5Proto-Hellenic*kéntron
6Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrompointed tool

Words derived from “central

Every word from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntrom
central — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer