Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “midpoint” come from?

Midpoint derives from Middle English midpoint, composed of mid- and point, where point comes from Old French point (small mark or dot) and Latin punctum (past participle of pungere, to prick or pierce).

midpoint (English): A point equidistant between two extremes; A point...

Definitions

  1. A point equidistant between two extremes; A point...

Ancestry of “midpoint”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMIDInitialism of mobile information device
2Englishmid-range—
3EnglishrangeA line or series of mountains, buildings, etc; A...
4Middle Englishrengen—
5Old Frenchrengierto line up; to form ranks
6Old Frenchrengplace; position
7Latinrencusrow; order, rank
8Gaulishrekos—
9Proto-Celticreketito arrange
10Proto-Indo-European(H)rek-to set in order

Words derived from “midpoint”

  • gyromidpoint
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (H)rek- →