Word of the Day

: August 27, 2024

propinquity

noun pruh-PING-kwuh-tee

What It Means

Propinquity is a formal word that typically refers to nearness in place or time, making it a synonym of proximity. It can also be used as a synonym of kinship to refer to the state of being related to others by blood.

// The geographical propinquity of these ancient cultures explains many of the architectural similarities.

See the entry >

propinquity in Context

“While the King welcomes any sort of contact, technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity. The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely.” — Michael Cole quoted in the Daily Mail (UK), 10 June 2024

Did You Know?

Gather near and we will tell you tale of the scions of prope, the Latin word for “near.” Approach approached first: by the 13th century it had made its way to English from prope through Late Latin and Anglo-French forms, with help from a prefix meaning “to, toward.” Propinquity was all about kinship when it entered English in the 14th century via an expansion in Latin of prope to propinquus, meaning “near, akin.” Its general “nearness” meaning developed soon after. Proximity entered the language in the 15th century via French, having been adopted from proximus, a form of prope meaning “nearest.” Hold this trio near if you like, and apply the rather formal propinquity to mean “nearness” or “proximity” when the occasion calls for a bit of formality.