centripetally
- adverb
- /sɛnˈtrɪpɪtəli/
- Specialized
:
centrípeta
- Haushofer contended that Mackinder's heartland theory was valid only as long as the Soviet Union was centripetally focused on its inner area and as long as the United States was similarly concerned with internal matters.
Examples
-
The water flows centripetally into the drain, creating a swirling motion before disappearing.
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In the first case, the stasis of the unit is presumed to be centripetally defined by the cementing effects of positivity (or love).
Academic text (1995) -
The planets revolve around the sun centripetally, maintaining their orbits by being pulled toward its gravitational center.
-
During the roller coaster ride, the cars moved centripetally around the sharp curves of the track.
Synonyms
Toward the main stem or center line of a plant
How Inward
- Specialized
43
2.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
centripetally = centripetal (transparent) = centripetal + ly
Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'centripetal', so the adverbial meaning is directly predictable.
Etymology
Centripetally comes from parts that mean 'center' and 'to seek'. The centri- part means 'center', like the familiar English word center, and the -petal part comes from Latin petere meaning 'to seek' or 'go toward', so centripetally means moving 'toward the center'.