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mathematical

Etymology and origin of the English word mathematical

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
early 15th century
From
Latin mathematicus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (μαθηματικός)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/ (UK); /ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from Medieval Latin mathēmaticus or mathēmaticālis, of mathematics,[2][3][4] from Latin mathēmatica (see mathematics), with the suffix -al,[2][5] from Greek μαθηματικός (mathēmatikós, “scientific”), from μάθημα (máthēma), learning, science, from the base of μανθάνω (manthánō), to learn.[4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to mathematics: the early 15th century in Etymonline,[2] 1530 in the OED.[6]

Semantic evolution

Learned in mathematics is from 1522,[6] and adapted to mathematical operations, as mathematical instruments, from 1625.[6] Of proofs or precision, resembling mathematics, exact, it is from 1662,[6] and constructed with mathematical regularity from 1776.[6] By 1765 it could refer to the quadrivium, the four mathematical arts of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music.[2] Mathematical linguistics is from 1951.[6] Possible according to mathematics but highly improbable, as a mathematical chance, is a later sense.[7]

Timeline

  • early 15th century – mathematical.[2]
  • 1522 – learned in mathematics.[6]
  • 1625 – mathematical instruments.[6]
  • 1662 – exact, precise.[6]
  • 1951 – mathematical linguistics.[6]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of or relating to mathematics.
  2. Precise or exact.
  3. Absolute or certain.
  4. Possible in theory but very unlikely: a mathematical chance.

Word family

  • mathematically
  • nonmathematical
  • semimathematical
  • unmathematical
  • mathematical induction
  • mathematical logic

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Mathematical.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/mathematical. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·