asymptote

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asymptote (geom.) line which approaches nearer and nearer to a curve without meeting it. XVII. — modL. asymptōta (sc. līnea line) — Gr. asúmptōtos, sb. use (sc. grammḗ line) of adj. ‘not falling together’, f. A-4 + sun- SYN- + ptōtós apt to fall.

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