Radicalness

rad·i·cal  (rd-kl)

adj.

1. Arising from or going to a root or source; basic: proposed a radical solution to the problem.

2. Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme: radical opinions on education.

3. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions: radical political views.

4. Linguistics Of or being a root: a radical form.

5. Botany Arising from the root or its crown: radical leaves.

6. Slang Excellent; wonderful.

n.

1. One who advocates fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions: radicals seeking to overthrow the social order.

2. Mathematics The root of a quantity as indicated by the radical sign.

3. Symbol R An atom or a group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron.

4. Linguistics See root¹.

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[Middle English, of a root, from Late Latin rdclis, having roots, from Latin rdx, rdc-, root; see wrd- in Indo-European roots.]

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radi·cal·ly adv.

radi·cal·ness n.