Vicinal
/ˈvɪs.ɪ.nəl/noun
Relating to a nearby place or to neighboring atoms in a molecule.
Did you know?Vicinal comes from Latin vicinus, meaning “neighbor,” from vicus, “village” or “district,” the same ancient root behind the eerie idea that your “local” world was once your “shared settlement.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weik-
“to settle, live in a settlement”
Latin
Latin
vicus
“a village, street, or neighborhood district”
Latin
Latin
vicinus
“neighboring, adjacent; a neighbor”
Late Latin
Latin
vicinalis
“pertaining to neighbors or a neighborhood”
16th Century
English
vicinal
“pertaining to neighbors or neighboring places”
Modern English
English
vicinal
“relating to a nearby place or to neighboring atoms in a molecule”