coherence
UK: kəʊˈhɪərəns | US: koʊˈhɪrəns
n. the quality of being logical, consistent, and clearly interconnected
n. (physics) the property of waves or signals maintaining a fixed phase relationship
coherence = co<together> + her<stick> + ence<noun suffix>
- co (from Latin com-, meaning "together")
- her (from Latin haerere, meaning "to stick or cling")
- ence (noun-forming suffix indicating a state or quality)
Etymology Origin:
The word coherence originates from Latin cohaerentia, derived from cohaerere ("to stick together"). The prefix co- emphasizes unity, while her reflects the idea of adhesion or logical connection. Over time, it evolved to describe abstract consistency (e.g., arguments) and physical wave alignment. The morphemes vividly capture the concept of elements "sticking together" to form a unified whole.
The essay lacked coherence, making it hard to follow.
Laser light is known for its high coherence.
Team coherence improved after the workshop.
The coherence of her speech impressed the audience.
Quantum coherence is essential for computing technologies.