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hy·pot·e·nuse

(hi-pŏtn-s′, -ys′) also hy·poth·e·nuse(-pŏthə-ns′, -nys′)

n. Abbr. hyp.

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

[Latinhypotenūsa, fromGreekhupoteinousa, fromfeminine present participle ofhupoteinein, to stretch or extend under : hupo-, hypo- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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hypotenuse

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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