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en·ta·sis

(ĕntə-sĭs)

n. pl. en·ta·ses (-sēz′)

A slight convexity or swelling, as in the shaft of a column, conventionally employed especially in classical architecture.

[Latin, from Greek, tension, from enteinein, to stretch tight : en-, intensive pref.; see EN-² + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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entasis

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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