radical

[ rad-i-kuhl ]
/ ˈræd ɪ kəl /

adjective

noun

Origin of radical

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin rādīcālis “having roots,” equivalent to Latin rādīc- (stem of rādīx) root1 + -ālis -al1

synonym study for radical

2. Radical, extreme, fanatical denote that which goes beyond moderation or even to excess in opinion, belief, action, etc. Radical emphasizes the idea of going to the root of a matter, and this often seems immoderate in its thoroughness or completeness: radical ideas; radical changes or reforms. Extreme applies to excessively biased ideas, intemperate conduct, or repressive legislation: to use extreme measures. Fanatical is applied to a person who has extravagant views, especially in matters of religion or morality, which render that person incapable of sound judgments; and excessive zeal which leads him or her to take violent action against those who have differing views: fanatical in persecuting others.

historical usage of radical

Radical comes straight from the Late Latin adjective rādicālis “having roots, rooted,” first occurring about a.d. 400 in Contra Faustum (“Against Faustus the Manichaean”) by St. Augustine of Hippo. Rādicālis is a derivative of the noun rādix (inflectional stem rādīc- ) “root (of a plant, tooth, hair), root (of a family, stock, breed), (etymological) root.” The mathematical sense “denoting the radical sign which indicates the root of a number” dates from the late 17th century. Radical in its political sense dates from the late 18th century in England and the first half of the 19th century in the United States.
Latin rādix comes from wrād-, one of the variants of the Proto-Indo-European root wrād, werād, wred- “root, branch.” From this same variant Latin also has rāmus “branch” (the root, so to speak, of English ramify ); Greek has rhádix (stem rhádik- ) from the same variant. Another variant of the root is the possible source of Greek rhiza, source of English rhizome (Greek variants include Aeolic briza, brisda and Mycenaean wriza ). Wrād- regularly becomes wrōt- in proto-Germanic, the ultimate source of the English word root.

OTHER WORDS FROM radical

Example sentences from the Web for radical

British Dictionary definitions for radical

radical
/ (ˈrædɪkəl) /

adjective

noun

Derived forms of radical

radicalness, noun

Word Origin for radical

C14: from Late Latin rādīcālis having roots, from Latin rādix a root

Medical definitions for radical

radical
[ rădĭ-kəl ]

n.

A group of elements or atoms usually passing intact from one compound to another but generally incapable of prolonged existence in a free state.
A free radical.

adj.

Of or being medical treatment by extreme, drastic, or innovative measures.
Designed to act on or eliminate the root or cause of a pathological process.

Scientific definitions for radical

radical
[ rădĭ-kəl ]

A root, such as √2, especially as indicated by a radical sign (√).
A group of atoms that behaves as a unit in chemical reactions and is often not stable except as part of a molecule. The hydroxyl, ethyl, and phenyl radicals are examples. Radicals are unchanged by chemical reactions.

Cultural definitions for radical (1 of 2)

radical

In politics, someone who demands substantial or extreme changes in the existing system.

Cultural definitions for radical (2 of 2)

radical

In chemistry, an atom or group of atoms that has at least one electron free to participate in forming a chemical bond.

notes for radical

In general, radicals are associated with chemical reactions that proceed rapidly.