actio ad distans

noun

ac·​tio ad di·​stans

-ˌad-ˈdi-ˌstanz,

-ˌäd-ˈdi-ˌstän(t)s

variants or actio in distans

-ˌin-ˈdi-

: action at a distance or without contact

Leibnitz held that the apparent physical impossibility of actio ad distans was an objection to gravitation

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined above

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