Enatant

/ˈɛnətənt/ adjective

Definition

Swimming or floating outward; swimming away or moving toward the outside; in botany, describing leaves or structures extending outward.

Etymology

From Latin 'en-' + 'natans' (swimming, floating), from 'natare' (to swim). Botanical and biological term for movement or orientation away from center.

Kelly Says

In botany, when leaves are described as 'enatant,' they're swimming outward from the stem—the Latin root 'nat' means to swim, so leaves are literally described as if they're doing the backstroke away from the plant.

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