Etymology

linear

L1I1N1E1A1R1

Today it means: Having the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course. Full definition →

First used 1980sLatin līneāris
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The story

  1. Latin · borrowed fromlīneāris
  2. English todaylinear

Borrowed from Latin līneāris, from līnea (“line”) + -āris (adjectival suffix), equivalent to line + -ar. Doublet of lineal.

First known use, by meaning

  • From 1980s Delivered or delivering on a fixed schedule, as opposed to on-demand.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.