Etymology
The word "pivot" comes from the Old French word "pivot," which in turn derives from the Latin word "pivus," meaning "fat" or "thick."
Meaning and Origin
In its original Latin form, "pivus" referred to the round, thick end of a wooden beam that could be used as a support or axis for rotation. This sense of "pivus" was borrowed into Old French as "pivot," which came to be used more generally for any kind of axis or central point around which something rotates.
In English, the word "pivot" was first used in the 15th century to refer to the central pin or shaft of a hinge. By the 16th century, it had acquired its more general meaning of "any central point around which something rotates or revolves."
In addition to its physical meaning, "pivot" can also be used figuratively to refer to a crucial point around which something else turns or revolves. For example, a person's "pivotal moment" might be a decision or event that changes the course of their life.
Example Sentences
Etymology Latin pivotus meaning turning around a fixed point Meaning A central
Etymology The word pivot comes from the Old French word pivot which in turn derives
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Etymology The word pulley is derived from the Middle English word pule which in turn
Etymology Middle English kerne from Anglo Norman French kerne from Irish cethern f
Etymology The word aleatory originates from the Latin word alea which means dice o
Etymology The word pole derives from the following roots Middle English pol Old
Etymology and Origin of axis The word axis is derived from the Latin word axis whi
Etymology The term pirouette derives from the French verb pirouetter which means to
Etymology The word runt is thought to have originated from the Middle English word run
Etymology The word turn comes from the Old English word turnian meaning to cause to
