Key Definition
- In consonance with other factors.
- Not in consonance with other factors.
- to input (data) by means of a keyboard or keypad
- to focus one's attention, effort, etc. on
the teacher keyed in on the final chapter
- to make tense or excited, as in anticipation
Origin of Key
-
From Middle English keye, kaye, keiȝe, from Old English cǣġ, cǣġe, cǣga (“key, solution, experiment”), from Proto-Germanic *kēgaz (“stake, post, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵogh-, *ǵegh- (“branch, stake, bush”), related to Old English cǣggian (“to lock, shut”). Cognate with Scots key, kay (“key”), West Frisian kaai (“key”), North Frisian kay (“key”), Middle Low German kāk (“whipping post, pillory”), and perhaps to Middle Dutch keige (“javelin, spear”), Middle Low German keie, keige (“spear”). For the semantic development, note that medieval keys were simply long poles (ending in a hook) with which a crossbar obstructing a door from the inside could be removed from the outside, by lifting it through a hole in the door.
From Wiktionary
-
Alteration (influenced by key) (variant of quay) of Spanish cayo cay
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English kai, kei from Old English cǣg
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
Variant of cay, from Spanish cayo.
From Wiktionary
Shortening and alteration of kilogram
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to key using the buttons below.