perpendicularness
|per-pen-dic-u-lar-ness|
🇺🇸
/ˌpɝpənˈdɪkjələrnəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌpɜːpənˈdɪkjʊlənəs/
(perpendicular)
right angle
Etymology
'perpendicularness' originates from Late Latin, specifically the Medieval Latin adjective 'perpendicularis', ultimately from Latin 'perpendiculum' where 'per-' meant 'thoroughly' and 'pendere' meant 'to hang.'
'perpendicularness' developed from Medieval/Latin roots: Latin 'perpendiculum' (a plumb line) and Medieval Latin 'perpendicularis' gave rise via Old French/Medieval borrowings to Middle English 'perpendicular' and later the English noun-forming suffix '-ness' produced 'perpendicularness.'
Initially it was associated with a plumb line or the notion of 'hanging straight'; over time it evolved into the more general geometrical sense of 'the quality of being at right angles.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the state or quality of being perpendicular; the property of forming a right angle (90°) with something else.
The perpendicularness of the two walls ensures the corner is exactly 90 degrees.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/26 23:08