Talk:catenary

RFV discussion: February 2019
Does this indeed mean “a system of overhead power lines”, or is it, rather, a name for just a single overhead line providing electricity to trains and such? --Lambiam 13:28, 9 February 2019 (UTC)
 * I could see it meaning both a single line and a system/network of such lines, but "system/network" can't be the principal meaning. I'll look for cites for the system network sense. DCDuring (talk) 17:45, 9 February 2019 (UTC)
 * The "system" would seem to be the combination of the trolley wire (conductor which trolley device contacts), the catenary wire (possibly non-conducting) which connects to poles or bridge structures, and the vertical supports that connect the two wires. I am not yet sure how to word this briefly. Also the technology has changed over the more than one hundred years caternary suspension of conductors to power public transport vehicles has been in use. DCDuring (talk) 18:19, 9 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Darn! I found a bunch of quotes that used the system sense when I was looking for the adjective. Now I have to find them again! Kiwima (talk) 08:18, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Ok, I added a bunch of cites. I think we can call this cited Kiwima (talk) 08:27, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * The cites are great. I've revised the definition to include both the single caternary support wire and the combined system of conductor(s), catenary, and the support elements. System can be extended to include the poles and bridges that carry the wires. Also high-voltage power transmission lines are supported by caternary cables. DCDuring (talk) 17:23, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Finally, I hope, the support cables between the towers of a multi-tower suspension bridge are called caternaries. DCDuring (talk) 17:36, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Roofs, domes, etc are supported by caternaries, which BTW do not necessarily take the shape suggested in our geometry definition. Also caternary is used in reference to the shape of arches in arched bridges, explicitly distinguished from sections of circles. DCDuring (talk) 17:48, 10 February 2019 (UTC)

RFV discussion: February 2019
RFV adjective sense: "Relating to a chain; like a chain."

I am not so much doubting that this meaning may exist as wishing to see usage examples that illustrate it. It is fairly easy to find "catenary" as a modifier referring to something being, or having the shape of, a hanging chain (in which case it can be quite hard to judge whether the word is a true adjective or attributive noun), but I have not found any where it simply means "Relating to a chain; like a chain". Mihia (talk) 19:00, 8 February 2019 (UTC)


 * cited Kiwima (talk) 20:34, 8 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks for finding those. Do you understand how can a soil can be of a "catenary" nature? Mihia (talk) 00:29, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Most of the quotes I found that clearly use this as an adjective and not an attributive use of the word seem to use it to mean sequential. I believe the catenary nature of the soil involves a sequence of types... Kiwima (talk) 08:16, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * OK, thanks. If we can be confident of that interpretation, I think it would be useful to add it to the definition line. Mihia (talk) 13:49, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Here are two definitions of catena from OneLook
 * Geography Dictionary:
 * "Catena-sequence of soils on a slope where the differences between them are a direct function of the change in slope."
 * Archaeology Wordsmith
 * "A sequence of soils formed by the same parent material but from different landscape positions have taken on differing characteristics. Seeing these difference may assist interpretation of archaeological sites."
 * As I interpret this, the 'soil' sense of caternary is derived from the soil sense of catena which is an idiomatic (metaphoric) extension of the general definition. Ie, it warrants a separate etymology. DCDuring (talk) 16:50, 10 February 2019 (UTC)
 * OK. Unfortunately I am not sufficiently familiar with this subject matter to attempt any changes myself. Looking again, I'm not sure I understand the other citations either. What about "In Europe, the organizer was the hostess and her principle was catenary". Is it referring to a chain of delegation perhaps? Mihia (talk) 19:00, 11 February 2019 (UTC)
 * No, if you read further in that piece, it is talking about the chain of courses in a meal. Kiwima (talk) 21:13, 11 February 2019 (UTC)