Centripetal comes from New Latin centripetus. Its petere component supplies movement toward something. The centre base goes back through Latin centrum to Greek kentron.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster: centripetal
New Latin centripetus combines centr- and Latin petere, to go to or seek.
- Merriam-Webster: center
The centre base includes Latin centrum, borrowed from Greek kentron.
- Online Etymology Dictionary: center
Also built on *centrum*: central, concentric, concentrate
- Online Etymology Dictionary · centripetal
Meanings of the older forms on the word path.