antigravitation
|an-ti-grav-i-ta-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tɪˌɡrævɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪˌɡrævɪˈteɪ.ʃ(ə)n/
opposition to gravity
Etymology
'antigravitation' originates from Modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'gravitation' (from Latin 'gravitas' meaning 'weight' or 'heaviness').
'gravitation' derives from Latin 'gravitas' ('weight, heaviness'), passed into scientific Latin as 'gravitatio/gravitation-' and into Modern English as 'gravitation'; the compound 'antigravitation' emerged in the 20th century alongside discussions of 'anti‑gravity' in both scientific speculation and science fiction.
Initially constructed to mean 'opposition to or cancellation of gravitational effects'; over time it has retained that core sense but has also broadened in popular use to denote fictional technologies or devices that enable levitation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a hypothetical phenomenon, force, or technology that counteracts or neutralizes the effects of gravity (often used in scientific speculation and science fiction).
Researchers discussed the theoretical possibility of antigravitation for low‑energy spacecraft propulsion.
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Noun 2
in fiction and popular usage, any device or method that produces lift or levitation by negating gravity (often without a detailed scientific basis).
The novel described a city that floated above the ground thanks to antigravitation engines.
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Last updated: 2025/09/01 19:23