algorism

noun

al·go·rism

ˈal-gə-ˌri-zəm

plural -s

: the system of Arabic numerals

: the art of calculating by means of nine figures and zero : arithmetic

: the art of calculating with any species of notation

the algorism of fractions

algorismic

¦al-gə-ˌ¦riz-mik

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English augrim, algorisme, from Old French & Medieval Latin; Old French augorisme, from Medieval Latin algorismus, from Arabic al-khuwārizmi, after abu-Jaʽfar Mohammed ibn-Mūsa al-Khuwārizmi, flourished 825 a.d. Persian mathematician

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of algorism was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century