Origin of radical
SYNONYMS FOR radical
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.
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
Words nearby radical
Example sentences from the Web for radical
British Dictionary definitions for radical
radical
/ (ˈrædɪkəl) /
adjective
noun
Derived forms of radical
radicalness, nounWord Origin for radical
C14: from Late Latin
rādīcālis having roots, from Latin
rādix a root
Medical definitions for radical
radical
[ răd′ĭ-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
[ răd′ĭ-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.