propinquity

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

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2024-08-27

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27, 2024 is: propinquity pruh-PING-kwuh-tee noun What It Means Propinquity is a formal word that typically refers to nearness in place or time, making it a synonym of proximity. It can also be used as a synonym of kinship to refer to the state of being related to others by blood. // The geographical propinquity of these ancient cultures explains many of the architectural similarities. cynosure in Context “While the King welcomes any sort of contact, technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity. The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely.” — Michael Cole quoted in the Daily Mail (UK), 10 June 2024 Did You Know? Gather near and we will tell you tale of the scions of prope, the Latin word for “near.” Approach approached first: by the 13th century it had made its way to English from prope through Late Latin and Anglo-French forms, with help from a prefix meaning “to, toward.” Propinquity was all about kinship when it entered English in the 14th century via an expansion in Latin of prope to propinquus, meaning “near, akin.” Its general “nearness” meaning developed soon after. Proximity entered the language in the 15th century via French, having been adopted from proximus, a form of prope meaning “nearest.” Hold this trio near if you like, and apply the rather formal propinquity to mean “nearness” or “proximity” when the occasion calls for a bit of formality.
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  • It's Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 27th.

  • Today's word is propinquity, spelled P-R-O-P-I-N-Q-U-I-T-Y.

  • Propinquity is a noun.

  • It's a formal word that typically refers to nearness in place or time,

  • making it a synonym of the word proximity.

  • It can also be used as a synonym of the word kinship to refer to the state of being related to others by blood.

  • Here's the word used in a sentence from the Daily Mail quoting Michael Cole.

  • While the King welcomes any sort of contact,

  • technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity.

  • The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely.

  • Gather near and we'll tell you the tale of the Scions of Prope, the Latin word for near.

  • Approach, approached first.

  • By the 13th century it had made its way to English from Prope through the late Latin and Anglo-French forms with help from a prefix meaning to or toward.

  • Propinquity was all about kinship when it entered English in the 14th century via an expansion of the Latin prope to propincus,

  • meaning near or akin.

  • Its general nearness meaning developed soon after.

  • Proximity entered the language in the 15th century via French,

  • having been adopted from the word proximus, a form of prope meaning nearest.

  • Hold this trio near, if you like,

  • and apply the rather formal propinquity to mean nearness or proximity when the occasion calls for a bit of formality.