Lateral
/ˈlæt.ər.əl/noun
Situated on or relating to the side.
Did you know?Its deepest root likely goes back to the Indo-European idea of the body’s side, the same ancient family that gave Latin words for flanks and side-positions.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“side, flank”
Latin
Latin
lateralis
“of the side, belonging to the side”
Late Latin
Latin
lateralis
“sideways, situated at the side”
14th Century
English
laterale
“pertaining to the side”
Modern English
English
lateral
“situated on or relating to the side”