salient

salient
salient 1560s, "leaping," a heraldic term, from L. salientem (nom. saliens), prp. of salire "to leap," from PIE root *sel- "to jump" (Cf. Gk. hallesthai "to leap," M.Ir. saltraim "I trample," and probably Skt. ucchalati "rises quickly"). The meaning "pointing outward" (preserved in military usage) is from 1680s; that of "prominent, striking" first recorded 1840, from salient point (1670s), which refers to the heart of an embryo, which seems to leap, and translates L. punctum saliens, going back to Aristotle's writings. Hence, the "starting point" of anything.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Salient — Sa li*ent, a. [L. saliens, entis, p. pr. of salire to leap; cf. F. saillant. See {Sally}, n. & v. i..] 1. Moving by leaps or springs; leaping; bounding; jumping. Frogs and salient animals. Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster] 2. Shooting out or up;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Salient — may refer to:* Peninsula like salients of political geography and Military Science. ** Salient (military), a battlefield feature that projects one forces lines into enemy territory which surrounds it on three sides. ** Salient (geography), part… …   Wikipedia

  • Salient — Sa li*ent, a. (Fort.) A salient angle or part; a projection. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • salient — [sāl′yənt, sā′lē ənt] adj. [L saliens, prp. of salire, to leap < IE base * sel , to jump > Gr halma, a leap] 1. a) leaping, jumping, or capering b) gushing or jetting forth 2. pointing outward; jutting or projecting, as an angle 3. standing …   English World dictionary

  • salient — I adjective bold, capital, cardinal, chief, clear, commanding, conspicuous, distinct, distinguished, dominant, dominating, eminent, evident, exalted, explicit, extraordinary, flagrant, foremost, glaring, illustrious, important, imposing,… …   Law dictionary

  • salient — conspicuous, outstanding, signal, striking, arresting, prominent, remarkable, *noticeable Analogous words: significant, important, weighty (see corresponding nouns at IMPORTANCE): impressive, *moving: obtrusive, intrusive (see IMPERTINENT) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • salient — [adj] noticeable, important arresting, arrestive, conspicuous, famous, impressive, intrusive, jutting, marked, moving, notable, obtrusive, obvious, outstanding, pertinent, projecting, prominent, pronounced, protruding, remarkable, signal,… …   New thesaurus

  • salient — ► ADJECTIVE 1) most noticeable or important. 2) (of an angle) pointing outwards. ► NOUN 1) a piece of land or section of fortification that juts out to form an angle. 2) an outward bulge in a military line. DERIVATIVES salience noun …   English terms dictionary

  • salient — saliently, adv. /say lee euhnt, sayl yeuhnt/, adj. 1. prominent or conspicuous: salient traits. 2. projecting or pointing outward: a salient angle. 3. leaping or jumping: a salient animal. 4. Heraldry. (of a beast) represented as leaping: a lion… …   Universalium

  • salient — [[t]se͟ɪliənt[/t]] salients 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n The salient points or facts of a situation are the most important ones. [FORMAL] He read the salient facts quickly... Chronic fatigue is also one of the salient features of depression. Derived… …   English dictionary

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