lineal
UK: ˈlɪnɪəl | US: ˈlɪniəl
adj. relating to or derived in a direct line of descent
adj. arranged in or extending along a straight line
lineal = line<line> + al<adjective suffix>
- line: From Latin linea ("thread, string, line"), derived from linum ("flax," the plant used to make thread).
- al: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin -alis, indicating "pertaining to."
Etymology Origin:
The word lineal traces back to the Latin linea, originally referring to a thread or string, which metaphorically extended to mean a continuous mark or succession. The suffix -al was added to form an adjective meaning "pertaining to a line." Over time, lineal came to describe both literal straight lines and figurative lines of descent, emphasizing direct, unbroken continuity.
The lineal heir to the throne was crowned after his father's death.
The architect preferred lineal designs over curved structures.
Their lineal ancestry could be traced back to the 12th century.
The artist used lineal patterns to create a sense of order in the painting.
In mathematics, a lineal function graphs as a straight line.