Symmetricalness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. The characteristic of being proportionately the same on either side of a central line is a reflection of uniformity and balance in appearance
  2. This attribute indicates that the arrangement on both sides of a dividing axis is equal, showcasing an aesthetically pleasing symmetry
  3. The quality of having balanced proportions on both sides of an axis illustrates uniformity and aesthetic harmony in design and structure

Etymology: "Symmetricalness" is a plain English compound, built by adding the suffix "-ness" to the adjective "symmetrical." The "-ness" ending turns an adjective into a noun for a quality, so "symmetricalness" names the state of being symmetrical: the even, mirror-image balance of parts on either side of a dividing line or around a central point. The adjective itself came into English from Medieval Latin "symmetricalis," which traces back to Greek "symmetria," meaning "commensurability" or "proportion," built from "syn" ("together") and "metron" ("measure"). The Greek sense was about parts fitting together in due measure rather than mirror images, a meaning that shifted toward visual balance as the word spread into art and architecture. Because "-ness" attaches to many adjectives, "symmetricalness" is rarely used. Most writers choose the shorter "symmetry," which is the more common form of the same idea.

Synonyms: symmetry, balance, regularity, proportionality, harmony

Antonyms: asymmetry, irregularity, unevenness, disproportion, imbalance