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perpendicular

 - 3 dictionary results

per⋅pen⋅dic⋅u⋅lar

  [pur-puhn-dik-yuh-ler]
Use perpendicular in a Sentence
–adjective
1. vertical; straight up and down; upright.
2. Geometry. meeting a given line or surface at right angles.
3. maintaining a standing or upright position; standing up.
4. having a sharp pitch or slope; steep.
5. (initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the last style of English Gothic architecture, prevailing from the late 14th through the early 16th century and characterized by the use of predominantly vertical tracery, an overall linear, shallow effect, and fine intricate stonework.
–noun
6. a perpendicular line or plane.
7. an instrument for indicating the vertical line from any point.
8. an upright position.
9. a sharply pitched or precipitously steep mountain face.
10. moral virtue or uprightness; rectitude.
11. Nautical. either of two lines perpendicular to the keel line, base line, or designed water line of a vessel.
Origin:
1350–1400; < L perpendiculāris vertical, equiv. to perpendicul(um) plumb line (see perpend 2 , -i-, -cule 2 ) + -āris -ar 1 ; r. ME perpendiculer(e) (adj. and adv.) < OF perpendiculiere

Related forms:
per⋅pen⋅dic⋅u⋅lar⋅i⋅ty, per⋅pen⋅dic⋅u⋅lar⋅ness, noun
per⋅pen⋅dic⋅u⋅lar⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. standing. See upright.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To perpendicular
per·pen·dic·u·lar   (pûr'pən-dĭk'yə-lər)   
adj.  

  1. Mathematics Intersecting at or forming right angles.

  2. Being at right angles to the horizontal; vertical. See Synonyms at vertical.

  3. often Perpendicular Of or relating to a style of English Gothic architecture of the 14th and 15th centuries, characterized by emphasis of the vertical element.

adv.  In a perpendicular position.
n.  

  1. Mathematics A line or plane perpendicular to a given line or plane.

  2. A perpendicular position.

  3. A device, such as a plumb line, used in marking the vertical from a given point.

  4. A vertical or nearly vertical line or plane.


[Middle English perpendiculer, from Old French, from Latin perpendiculāris, from perpendiculum, plumb line, from perpendere, to weigh carefully : per-, per- + pendere, to weigh; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
per'pen·dic'u·lar'i·ty (-lār'ĭ-tē) n., per'pen·dic'u·lar·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

perpendicular  (adj.)
c.1391, from O.Fr. perpendiculer, from L. perpendicularis "vertical, as a plumb line," from perpendiculum "plumb line," from perpendere "balance carefully," from per- "thoroughly" + pendere "to weigh, to hang" (see pendant).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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