also co-terminous, 1630s, malformed in English from co- + terminous (see terminal). Latin purists prefer conterminous.
Entries linking to coterminous
co-
in Latin, the form of com- "together, with" in compounds with stems beginning in vowels, h-, and gn-; see com-. Taken in English from 17c. as a living prefix meaning "together, mutually, in common," and used promiscuously with native words (co-worker) and Latin-derived words not beginning with vowels (codependent), including some already having it (co-conspirator).
terminal adj.
mid-15c., "relating to or marking boundaries," from Latin terminalis "pertaining to a boundary or end, final," from terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus). The meaning "fatal" (terminal illness) is recorded from 1891. The sense of "situated at the extreme end" (of something) is from 1805. The slang meaning "extreme" is recorded from 1983. Related: Terminally.
conterminous adj.
"having the same limit, touching at the boundary," 1670s, from Latin conterminus "bordering upon, having a common boundary," from assimilated form of com "together, with" (see con-) + terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus). Related: Conterminously; conterminousness.