Where did the word circle originate from?

The word "circle" has a long and interesting history, ultimately coming from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷer-, meaning "to turn, to bend, to curve."

Here's a breakdown of its journey:

* Proto-Indo-European: *kʷer-**

* Proto-Germanic: *hwérkwaz** (meaning "wheel")

* Old English: *hweorl** (meaning "wheel, circle")

* Middle English: *cirkel** (meaning "circle, wheel")

* Modern English: circle

So, the word "circle" originally referred to a wheel, which is a perfect example of a circular shape. Over time, the meaning shifted to encompass any closed curve that is equidistant from a central point.

Interestingly, many languages around the world share similar roots for the word "circle," reflecting its ancient and fundamental nature. For example, the Latin word circulus and the Greek word κύκλος (kyklos) both stem from the same Proto-Indo-European root.