Question

propinquity noun "Propinquity" and its cousin "proximity" are related through the Latin root "prope," which means "near." That root gave rise to "proximus" (the parent of "proximity") and "propinquus" (an ancestor of "propinquity"). "Proximus" is the superlative of "prope" and thus means "nearest," whereas "propinquus" simply means "near" or "akin," but in English "propinquity" conveys a stronger sense of closeness than "proximity." (The latter usually suggests a sense of being in the vicinity of something.) The distinctions between the two words are subtle, however, and they are often used interchangeably. "Propinquity" is believed to be the older of the two words, first appearing in English in the 14th century; "proximity" followed a century later. 1 : nearness of blood : kinship2 : nearness in place or time : proximity

Accepted Answer

February 6, 2012 pruh-PING-kwuh-tee Many of the retirement community's residents cite the propinquity of the area's various cultural offerings as a significant reason for their choice of the facility.  "Canada was faced with the overwhelming propinquity of the United States; it was just next door -- for almost nine thousand kilometres." -- From Derek Lundy's 2011 book Borderlands: Riding the Edge of America

Word	propinquity
Date	February 6, 2012
Type	noun
Syllables	pruh-PING-kwuh-tee
Etymology	"Propinquity" and its cousin "proximity" are related through the Latin root "prope," which means "near." That root gave rise to "proximus" (the parent of "proximity") and "propinquus" (an ancestor of "propinquity"). "Proximus" is the superlative of "prope" and thus means "nearest," whereas "propinquus" simply means "near" or "akin," but in English "propinquity" conveys a stronger sense of closeness than "proximity." (The latter usually suggests a sense of being in the vicinity of something.) The distinctions between the two words are subtle, however, and they are often used interchangeably. "Propinquity" is believed to be the older of the two words, first appearing in English in the 14th century; "proximity" followed a century later.
Examples	Many of the retirement community's residents cite the propinquity of the area's various cultural offerings as a significant reason for their choice of the facility. "Canada was faced with the overwhelming propinquity of the United States; it was just next door -- for almost nine thousand kilometres." -- From Derek Lundy's 2011 book Borderlands: Riding the Edge of America
Definition	1 : nearness of blood : kinship 2 : nearness in place or time : proximity

Propinquity Means Proximity Root Proximus Propinquus English Sense