propinquity (2009-10-16)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [prê-'ping-kwê-ti]

Definition: Nearness, as in nearness in location or time (proximity), nearness in relationship (kinship), or nearness in character.

Usage: Today's word is a more elegant surrogate for "nearness" that does not refer to an inclination: "The propinquity of the teacher undermined the effectiveness of his crib sheets." It is particularly appropriate in referring to abstract proximity, "The propinquity of their thinking kept them together much of the time."

Suggested Usage: Look out for the false cognate, propensity "inclination," as in "He has a propensity for overeating that is encouraged by a propinquity to tasty edibles." There is a little-used adjective, "propinquitous," but not much else in the line of related words.

Etymology: Today's word came to Middle English as "propinquite" via Old French from Latin propinquitas "nearness, vicinity" from propinquus "near." This word is an extension of prope "near," whose comparative is propior "nearer" and superlative is proximus "nearest." This latter stem underlies English "proximity" and "approximately," both also related to nearness. The original Proto-Indo-European root was *poro-/pero- which underlies a series of words meaning "first," including English "first" and Russian "pervyi."