Usage of Capital vs. Capitol
Is it spelled Capitol or Capital?
Main Entry: capitol
Pronunciation: 'ka-p&-t&l, 'kap-t&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin Capitolium, temple of Jupiter at Rome on the Capitoline hill
Date: 1699
1 a : a building in which a state legislative body meets b : a group of buildings in which the
functions of state government are carried out.
2 capitalized : the building in which the U.S. Congress meets at Washington, D.C.
Main Entry: capital
Function: noun
Etymology: French or Italian; French, from Italian capitale, from capitale, adjective, chief, principal,
from Latin capitalis
Date: circa 1639
1 a (1) : a stock of accumulated goods especially at a specified time and in contrast to income received
during a specified period; also : the value of these accumulated goods (2) : accumulated goods devoted to
the production of other goods (3) : accumulated possessions calculated to bring in income b (1) : net worth
(2) : CAPITAL STOCK c : persons holding capital d : ADVANTAGE, GAIN {make capital of the situation}
2 [2capital] a : a capital letter; especially : an initial capital letter b : a letter belonging to a style
of alphabet modeled on the style customarily used in inscriptions
3 [2capital] a : a city serving as a seat of government b : a city preeminent in some special
activity {the fashion capital}
Main Entry: cap·i·tal
Pronunciation: 'ka-p&-t&l, 'kap-t&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English capitale, modification of Old North French capitel, from Late Latin capitellum
small head, top of column, diminutive of Latin capit-, caput head -- more at HEAD
Date: 13th century
: the uppermost member of a column or pilaster crowning the shaft and taking the weight of the entablature
-- see COLUMN illustration
Main Entry: capital
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin capitalis, from capit-, caput
Date: 14th century
1 of a letter : of or conforming to the series A, B, C, etc. rather than a, b, c, etc.
2 a : punishable by death {a capital crime} b : involving execution {capital punishment} c : most serious {a
capital error}
3 a : chief in importance or influence {capital ships} {the capital importance of criticism in the work of
creation itself -- T. S. Eliot}
b : being the seat of government
4 : of or relating to capital; especially : relating to or being assets that add to the long-term net worth
of a corporation {capital improvements}
5 : EXCELLENT {a capital book}