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Added 10 October 2026

centripetal

/sɛnˈtɹɪp.ə.tl̩/ adjective

Latin root: centripetālis Coined: a coined word, by Sir Isaac Newton Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about centripetal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Directed or moving towards a centre.
Directed towards the central nervous system; afferent.

Origin

From New Latin centripetālis coined by Sir Isaac Newton, from Latin centrum (“center”) + petō (“to seek, aim”) + -al. Analysable as centri- + -petal.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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