Where does “tangentially” come from?
Tangentially derives from English tangent, Latin tangēns (touching), and Latin līnea (line), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to touch and come together.
tangentially (English): In a tangential manner or direction
Definitions
- In a tangential manner or direction
Ancestry of “tangentially”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tangential | Referring to a tangent, moving at a tangent to... |
| 2 | English | tangent | A straight line touching a curve at a single... |
| 3 | Latin | tangentem | accusative masculine singular of tangēns;... |
| 4 | Latin | tangens | touching, grasping; reaching, arriving at;... |
| 5 | Latin | tangō | to touch, grasp |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *tangō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | denḱ- | to bite |