gravitation etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: "gravitas" (weight, heaviness)
  • From Proto-Indo-European: "*gʷr̥h₁-" (heavy)

Meaning:

  • The force of attraction between any two objects with mass.

Origin:

The word "gravitation" was first used in English in the mid-17th century, initially referring to the downward pull of the Earth on objects. It was later expanded to include the force of attraction between any two objects with mass.

The concept of gravitation was first proposed by the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras in the 5th century BC, who suggested that the planets were held in their orbits by a "force of love." However, it was not until the 16th century that the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus revived this idea and developed the heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center and the planets in orbit around it.

In 1687, Sir Isaac Newton published his theory of universal gravitation, which stated that every particle of matter attracts every other particle with a force that is proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law revolutionized our understanding of the motion of celestial bodies and became one of the cornerstones of modern physics.

The word "gravitas" has also been used figuratively to describe a sense of importance, dignity, or seriousness.

gravitation relate terms

  • gravitate

    Etymology The word gravitate originates from the Latin word gravis which means heav

  • gravity

    Etymology The word gravity is derived from the Middle English word gravite which in

  • gravitational

    Etymology The word gravitational comes from the Latin word gravis meaning heavy or

  • gravitation

    Etymology Latin gravitas weight heaviness From Proto Indo European gʷr̥h₁

  • fall

    Etymology Middle English fallen Old English feallan Proto Germanic fallaną Meani

  • trend

    Etymology From Middle English trende from Old French trende from Latin trendere to

  • prod

    Etymology Latin prodere meaning to betray to expose Old French proder prower me

  • drop

    Etymology From Middle English droppe from Old English dropa ddropa drop small porti

  • travel

    Etymology The English word travel derives from the Old French word travailler which

  • movement

    Etymology origin of the word movement Latin movere movere Proto Indo European m

  • drift

    Etymology The word drift comes from the Middle English word drifen which means to

  • attraction

    Etymology Old French attraccion Latin attractiō ōnis a drawing to Attractere

  • force

    Etymology The word force originates from the Latin word fortis which means strong

  • bolster

    Etymology The word bolster comes from the Old English word bolster which is derived