parallel

Definitions

From Greek para- ('beside') + allēlois ('one another,' a reduplication of allos, 'other') = 'beside one another.' Two lines forever beside each other, never meeting. Greek allos is the cousin of Latin alius, so parallel belongs to the ali family.

Why It Means This

The hidden 'other' is inside allēlois ('one another'). Two parallel lines stay beside 'one another' forever. The figurative sense follows naturally: parallel careers, a historical parallel — two things running alongside each other in similarity.

Common Collocations

• 1.parallel to平行于
• 2.draw a parallel作类比
• 3.parallel lines平行线
• 4.without parallel无与伦比

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The road runs parallel to the river for several miles.

• 2.

  There are striking parallels between the two crises.

• 3.

  Her career parallels her mother's in many ways.