Ogive

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈəʊɡaɪv/

Definitions

1. A pointed or Gothic arch that characterizes medieval architecture, or the nose cone of a missile or projectile
2. An architectural feature formed by intersecting arches with a pointed apex ; the streamlined, tapered front part of a missile designed to reduce air resistance
3. A curved archway with a sharp point used in medieval buildings ; the conical or bullet-shaped tip at the front of an object like a rocket to improve aerodynamics

Etymology: The pointed arch that became the hallmark of Gothic architecture carries a name that passed through English from French, and it is a close relative of a word for a quite different curve. "Ogive" entered English in late Middle English as "ogif" or "egeve", borrowed from Old French forms such as "ogive" and "augive". Its precise origin in French is uncertain, and the spelling shifted considerably before settling into the form used today. The most surprising link is with "ogee", a word for an S-shaped curve with a concave and a convex part. The two are doublets, meaning they descend from the same source but reached English by different routes and took on distinct senses. Both trace back to the same French material, so a pointed arch and a gently waving moulding turn out to share an ancestry.

Synonyms: curve, arch, slope, arc, outline