A root is the part of a plant that grows underground, taking in water and nutrients and holding the plant in place. The word can also mean the basic cause, source, or origin of something.
From Old Norse *rót* and Old English *rōt*, both meaning “root,” related to German *Wurzel*. The idea of “origin” or “source” grew from the image of roots as the starting point of plant life.
Roots are invisible most of the time, which is why the word became perfect for hidden causes and deep origins. In math, a “square root” is the hidden number that gives you the visible result when multiplied by itself.
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