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as·ymp·tote

(ăsĭm-tōt′, -ĭmp-)

A line whose distance to a given curve tends to zero. An asymptote may or may not intersect its associated curve.

[Ultimately from Greek asumptōtos, not intersecting : a-, not; see A-¹ + sumptōtos, intersecting (from sumpiptein, sumptō-, to converge : sun-, syn- + piptein, to fall; see pet- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

as′ymp·totic (-tŏtĭk), as′ymp·toti·cal adj.

as′ymp·toti·cal·ly adv.

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asymptote

The x-axis and y-axis are asymptotes of the hyperbola xy = 3.

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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