Centripetency

/sɛnˈtrɪpətənsi/ noun

Definition

The quality, state, or condition of being centripetal; the tendency to move toward or seek the center.

Etymology

From centripetal adjective plus abstract noun suffix -cy. An alternative form to centripetence, both created in technical vocabulary development of 18th-19th century physics.

Kelly Says

English offers both centripetency and centripetence for essentially the same meaning, showing how technical vocabulary sometimes develops redundancy—it's like having two words where one would do, a quirk of specialized language.

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