Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "pentagon" come from? It comes from Greek pentagōnon, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "pentagon" come from? It comes from Greek pentagōnon, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).
Pentagon’s story begins in Greek: pentagōnon meant “five-angled.” Greek, 'pente', five, plus 'gōnia', angle. It reached English by 1570s as pentagon. The Pentagon building opened in 1943. Today, pentagon means a five-sided figure.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient pentagōnon "five-angled", Greek, 'pente', five, plus 'gōnia', angle.
- Stage 2 · English · 1570s pentagon "five-sided figure", the Pentagon building opened in 1943.