summit

Definition

The topmost point or surface of a thing; the apex, the peak.

Etymology

PIE word *upó The noun is derived from Late Middle English somet, somete (“head, top”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman sumet and Middle French sommet (masculine), somete, sommette (“top of a thing; highest point of a mountain”) (feminine) (modern French sommet), from Old French somet, sommette, from som, sum (“highest point, summit”) + -et (suffix forming diminutive masculine nouns), -ete, -ette (suffix forming diminutive feminine nouns). Som, sum are derived from Latin summum (“top, summit”), a noun use of the neuter of summus (“greatest, highest; top, uppermost”, adjective) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *upér (“over”) + *-m̥mos, *-tm̥mos (“suffix forming superlative adjectives”)). The modern English spelling was influenced by summity (“height or top of a thing; utmost degree, perfection”) (obsolete). The verb is derived from the noun.

Example Sentences

• "In summer, it is possible to hike to the summit of Mount Shasta."
• "How can I crawl up to reach those heights / And run? / The venom is what keeps me alive / The venom is what keeps me alive / Up to the summit at night / Desperate to find that beating heart of mine that always makes me run"
• "They met for an international summit on environmental issues."

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