Octagonal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɑkˈtæɡənəl/

Definitions

1. Having the characteristics of a geometric figure with eight equal-length sides and internal angles, it is often used to describe various architectural and design elements
2. Describing a polygon that consists of eight straight sides and angles, this term is commonly applied in both art and structural contexts
3. Possessing the shape of a polygon with eight edges and angles

Etymology: Octagonal is about as plain as English gets: it is simply "octagon" with the adjective-forming suffix "-al" attached. The "-al" ending traces back through Middle English and Old French to the Latin "-ālis", which marked something as belonging to or relating to a noun, so "octagonal" means "relating to an octagon." The suffix is the same one found in words like "musical" or "national," and it attaches freely to nouns. The base word "octagon" is the more interesting half. It comes from Greek "oktṓ", meaning eight, combined with "gōnía", meaning angle, so the word literally describes an eight-angled figure. Its roots reach back to the same Indo-European stem that gives English "eight," which is why the number inside the word is so easy to spot once you know to look for it.

Synonyms: eight-sided, octagon-shaped