artery
UK: ˈɑːtəri | US: ˈɑːrtəri
n. 1. A blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body.
n. 2. A major route in a transportation or communication system (figurative).
artery = arter<windpipe, artery> + y<noun suffix>
- arter<windpipe, artery>: From Greek artēria, originally meaning "windpipe" (as early anatomists believed arteries carried air). Later reinterpreted to denote blood vessels.
- y: A noun-forming suffix in English, often indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word artery traces back to Greek artēria, which initially referred to the windpipe due to the ancient belief that arteries transported air (a theory debunked by later science). Over time, artēria was reapplied to the pulsating blood vessels we now call arteries. The spelling evolved through Latin arteria and Old French arterie before entering Middle English as arterie. The figurative sense of a "major route" emerged in the 17th century, mirroring the biological function of arteries as vital pathways.
The coronary artery supplies blood to the heart muscle.
Blocked arteries can lead to serious health problems.
The highway serves as an artery for interstate commerce.
The surgeon carefully repaired the damaged artery.
Rivers are often called the arteries of a country’s economy.