perpensity etymology

Etymology

• Late Latin perpendere "to weigh thoroughly"
• Latin per- "thoroughly" + pendere "to hang, weigh"

Meaning and Origin

"Perpendity" means "the state or quality of being perpendicular or at right angles." It is a noun derived from the Latin adjective perpendicularis, which means "perpendicular."

The term "perpendicular" entered English in the 15th century from the Latin perpendicularis, perpendiculariter. It is derived from the Latin perpendiculum, meaning "a plumb line" (literally, "that which hangs straight down"). A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string, used to establish a vertical reference line.

The ultimate origin of the Latin perpendere and pendere is Proto-Indo-European *pendh-, pend-, *pendh-, pend-, meaning "to hang down." This root is also the source of many other words in the Indo-European languages, including English "pend," "pendulous," and "pendulum."

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