gravitational
UK: ˌɡræv.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən.əl | US: ˌɡræv.əˈteɪ.ʃən.əl
adj. relating to or caused by gravity (the force that attracts objects toward each other)
adj. having great importance or seriousness
gravitational = gravit<heavy> + ation<noun suffix> + al<adjective suffix>
- gravit: From Latin gravis ("heavy, weighty"), reflecting the concept of gravitational force as a pull influenced by mass.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix indicating a process or state (e.g., "attraction," "rotation").
- al: An adjective suffix meaning "pertaining to" (e.g., "natural," "emotional").
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Newton's law of universal gravitation (1687), derived from Latin gravitas ("weight, seriousness"). The morpheme gravit preserves the core idea of heaviness, while -ation and -al transform it into an adjective describing the force's action. The term's scientific and metaphorical meanings (e.g., "gravitational pull of an idea") reflect its dual roots in physics and Latin abstraction.
The gravitational force between Earth and the Moon causes ocean tides.
Scientists study gravitational waves to understand black holes.
Her speech had a gravitational effect on the audience, holding their attention completely.
The asteroid's path was altered by Jupiter's gravitational field.
He felt a gravitational pull toward the mysteries of the universe.