tangential etymology

Etymology

• Latin "tangere" (to touch)
• Latin suffix "-alis" (relating to)

Meaning

• Relating to or parallel to a tangent
• Indirectly related or relevant
• Superficial or irrelevant

Origin

The word "tangential" was first used in English in the 16th century to describe something that is parallel to a tangent. A tangent is a straight line that touches a circle at one point without intersecting it.

The term "tangential" has since been extended to mean something that is indirectly related or relevant to a topic or situation. It can also be used to describe something that is superficial or irrelevant.

Examples

• The tangential line touches the circle at only one point.
• The speaker made several tangential remarks before getting to the main topic.
• The politician's response was purely tangential and did not address the question asked.

tangential relate terms

• tangent

  Etymology The word tangent is derived from the Latin word tangere meaning to touch

• tactile

  Tactile Etymology Derived from the Latin word tactus which means touch Meaning

• contact

  Etymology The word contact comes from the Latin word contactus meaning a touching

• torrential

  Etymology The word torrential comes from Latin where it developed the following meanin

• torrent

  Etymology and Origin of Torrent The word torrent originates from the Latin word torr

• tangential

  Etymology Latin tangere to touch Latin suffix alis relating to Meaning Rela

• asylum

  Etymology Greek ἄσυλον ásulos meaning unplundered or inviolable Latin

• defect

  Etymology The word defect comes from the Latin word deficere which means to fail

• pragmatic

  Etymology The word pragmatic derives from the Greek adjective pragmatikos which mean

• idle

  Etymology Idle comes from the Old English word idel which originally meant empty

• target

  Etymology Target comes from the Middle English word targe which in turn derives fro

• revelation

  Etymology Revelation has its roots in the Latin word revelare which means to uncover

• masquerade

  Etymology The word masquerade derives from the Spanish term mascarada which emerged

• prosperous

  Etymology The word prosperous is derived from the Latin word prosperus which means

• spurn

  Etymology Middle English spurnen from Old English spurnan Proto West Germanic spurn