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ar·te·sian well

(är-tezhən)

A well drilled through impermeable strata to reach water capable of rising to the surface by internal hydrostatic pressure.

[Frenchartésien, fromOld Frenchartesien, of Artois, fromArteis, Artois, France.]

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artesian well

A water table higher than the well ensures water pressure will consistently force water into the well.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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