Etymology
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kinetic (adj.)

"relating to muscular motion," 1841, from Greek kinētikos "moving, putting in motion," from kinētos "moved," verbal adjective of kinein "to move" (from PIE root *keie- "to set in motion").

Buster Keaton's subject was kinetic man, a being he approached with the almost metaphysical awe we reserve for a Doppelgänger. This being was, eerily, himself, played by himself, then later in a projection room, watched by himself: an experience never possible to any generation of actors in the previous history of the world. [Hugh Kenner, "The Counterfeiters," 1968]

From 1855 as "causing motion." Related: Kinetical; kinetically.

Entries linking to kinetic

*keie- 

also keiə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to set in motion."

It might form all or part of: behest; cinema; cinematography; citation; cite; excite; hest; hight; hyperkinetic; incite; kinase; kinematics; kinesics; kinesiology; kinesis; kinesthesia; kinesthetic; kinetic; kineto-; kino-; oscitant; recital; recitation; recite; resuscitate; solicit; solicitous; suscitate; telekinesis.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit cyavate "stirs himself, goes;" Greek kinein "to move, set in motion; change, stir up," kinymai "move myself;" Latin ciere (past participle citus, frequentative citare) "to set in motion, summon;" Gothic haitan "call, be called;" Old English hatan "command, call."  

hyperkinetic (adj.)

1880, from hyper- "over, exceedingly, to excess" + kinetic. Perhaps immediately from French hyperkinetic (1874). Related: Hyperkinesis (1869); hyperkinesia (1818).

updated on December 14, 2022

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Dictionary entries near kinetic

kinesiology

kinesis

kinesthesia

kinesthetic

kinesthetics

kinetic

kinetics

kineto-

kinfolk

king

King Kong

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