center

center · noun, adjective, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱen-?
2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrom
3. Proto-Hellenic*kéntron
4. Ancient Greekκέντρον (kéntron)
5. Latincentrum
6. Middle Frenchcentre
7. Middle Englishcenter
8. English todaycenter

From Middle English center, centre, from Middle French centre, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron), from κεντεῖν (kenteîn, “to prick, goad”). Doublet of centrum. * (group theory): In the notation Z(G), the letter Z derives from the German Zentrum (“center”).

Center · proper noun²

From center.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. The point in the interior of a circle that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.
• from 14th c. The point in the interior of a sphere that is equidistant from all points on the circumference.