kyklos

Kyklos is a Greek term (κύκλος) meaning circle, ring, or wheel. In its most basic sense it denotes a round shape, but it has long been extended to refer to cycles and recurring sequences. The word is the linguistic root of English cycle, cyclic, and related terms, through Latin cyclus and other derivative forms.

In classical usage, kyklos referred to a geometric circle as well as a circular arrangement or procession. The concept also came to signify repeated or periodic phenomena, a usage that fed into philosophical and scientific vocabulary as models of recurrence—such as seasonal, lunar, or historical cycles—were contemplated in ancient and later thought.

Geography and culture: The Cyclades, a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, derive their name from Kykládes, often explained as "the islands of the circle" or "the circular chain," reflecting their approximate arrangement around the sacred island of Delos. The toponym illustrates how kyklos can influence place names to evoke circular forms or groupings.

In modern usage, kyklos remains a productive root in many languages. It appears in terms such as cyclic and cycle, and in words describing rotating or repeating phenomena, including meteorological and biological cycles. The term also appears in the etymology of related concepts like cyclone, highlighting the enduring association of kyklos with rounds, rotations, and recurrence.