Etymology

pericenter

P3E1R1I1C3E1N1T1E1R1

Today it means: The point of closest approach of an astronomical object in an elliptical orbit to its center of attraction. Full definition →

English center ← Middle English center ← Middle French centre
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Ancient Greekπερῐ́ (perĭ́)
  3. Englishperi-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*ḱen-?
  5. Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrom
  6. Proto-Hellenic*kéntron
  7. Ancient Greekκέντρον (kéntron)
  8. Latincentrum
  9. Middle Frenchcentre
  10. Middle Englishcenter
  11. Englishcenter
  12. English todaypericenter

From peri- + center.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.