epicenter etymology

Etymology:

  • Origin: Greek epikentros ("at the center")
  • Composition:
    • epi- ("upon, at")
    • kentron ("center, point")

Meaning and Origin:

The word "epicenter" first appeared in English in the late 1800s, as a direct borrowing from the Greek epikentros. It originally referred to the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus (hypocenter) of an earthquake.

Over time, the meaning of "epicenter" has expanded to include:

  • The point on the surface of any body where the effects of an explosion, impact, or other seismic event are most severe.
  • The center of any event or activity, especially one that has significant consequences.

In modern usage, "epicenter" is often used figuratively to describe the central point of a conflict, controversy, or other major event. For example, one might say that a particular city is the "epicenter" of a political crisis.

epicenter relate terms

  • center

    Etymology Old English center centre lt Middle English centre center lt Latin centr

  • epicentre

    Etymology Epi Greek upon or above Kentron Greek center or point Meanin

  • epicenter

    Etymology Origin Greek epikentros at the center Composition epi upon at k

  • epicenter

    Etymology Origin Greek epikentros at the center Composition epi upon at k

  • sedulous

    Etymology Latin sedulus meaning diligent assiduous watchful Indo European sed m

  • Jehovah

    Etymology The name Jehovah is an Anglicization of the Hebrew name Yahweh יהוה

  • encounter

    Etymology The word encounter is derived from the Old French word encontrer which me

  • address

    Etymology The word address derives from the Old French word adrecier which in turn

  • costume

    Etymology From Old French costume from Late Latin consuetudo meaning custom usage

  • alone

    Etymology Old English ānlīen solitary Proto West Germanic ainli solitary Pro

  • secular

    Etymology The word secular derives from the Latin word saecularis which means perta

  • magistrate

    Etymology The word magistrate is derived from the Latin word magistratus which orig

  • respect

    Etymology The word respect derives from the Latin word respectus meaning a lookin

  • argument

    Etymology The word argument derives from the Latin word arguere meaning to make cl