English
entasis
Entasis comes from Ancient Greek ἔντασις ‘tension, straining’, from τείνω ‘to stretch, extend’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ten-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘stretch’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tén-ye-tireconstructedinnovative ye-present of *ten-
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*téňňō‘to stretch’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτείνω‘to stretch, extend’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐντείνωenteínō‘to stretch or strain tight’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἔντασιςéntasis‘tension, straining’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEentasis
- Englishearliest quotation 1859same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘stretch’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tén-ye-tireconstructedinnovative ye-present of *ten-
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*téňňō‘to stretch’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτείνω‘to stretch, extend’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἐντείνωenteínō‘to stretch or strain tight’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἔντασιςéntasis‘tension, straining’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEentasis
- Englishearliest quotation 1859same form
Earliest quotation: 1859, Journal of the Society of Arts: “It was simply the curve of the entasis, approximating…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘stretch’
continue, tight, content, ton, tune, maintenance, obtain, entertainment, contain, continuous, retain, tennis, tender, sustain, continent, detention, retention, tonic, rein, tenant, continuum, tenor, pristine, tendon, abstinence, pertinent, detain, tenacity, abstain, tenacious, sustenance, tenet, pertain, retinue, countenance, incontinence, tenement, tenable, tantra, abstention, 69 more
through Ancient Greek τείνω ‘to stretch, extend’
Today it means
noun A slight convex curvature introduced into the shaft of a column for aesthetic reasons, or to compensate for the illusion of concavity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / entasis