arithmétique

Forms

arithmétique f (usually uncountable, plural arithmétiques)^[1] Adjective: arithmétique (plural arithmétiques).^[1] Old French arimetique (about 1150) and arismetique, which lasted into the 16th century and in Norman.^[2][3][4] The learned spelling arithmétique is recorded in 1515 according to Rey, in 1529 according to Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF.^[4][3][5]

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Latin arithmētica (“arithmetic”),^[6][3][2][1] which adapts the Greek adjective Ancient Greek ἀριθμητική (arithmētikḗ) in ἀριθμητικὴ τέχνη (arithmētikḕ tékhnē, “the art of numbers”),^[4][1] from ἀριθμός (arithmós, “number”).^[4][2][5] Rey connects the Greek word with an Indo-European root meaning “fitting, exact”, also seen in Old High German rīm (“number”) and Latin rītus (“rite”).^[4]

The adjective is a separate borrowing, recorded in 1370 as Middle French arismetique.^[2][7] It is borrowed from Latin arithmēticus (“arithmetical”), from Ancient Greek ἀριθμητικός (arithmētikós).^[2][7][3][1]

The medieval forms in ⟨aris-⟩ reflect the late pronunciation of the Greek letter theta as a spirant, as do Old Occitan arismetica and archaic Spanish arismetica.^[4][3] The learned form with ⟨arit-⟩ replaced them in the 16th century.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun appears about 1150 in the Roman de Thèbes, as the science of numbers.^[4][2] The Roman de la Rose has Quant il traitoit d'arismetique “when he dealt with arithmetic”.^[8][4]

Semantic evolution

Older than calcul, the noun stood for the theoretical side of reckoning.^[4] It was narrower at first than mathématique, and stayed bound to the notion of number when algèbre took its modern sense in the 17th century.^[4] Extended senses such as “reckoning, calculation” (18th century) are little used.^[4][9]

The adjective, used since 1370, appears in phrases such as machine arithmétique (1751).^[4] Derivatives include arithmétiquement (1558) and arithméticien (about 1580, earlier arismetien).^[4][3]

Timeline

• c. 1150 – The noun appears as arimetique in the Roman de Thèbes.^[4][2]
• 1265 – Brunetto Latini writes arismétique.^[5]
• 1370 – The adjective is first recorded.^[2][7][4]
• 1515 – The learned form with arit- appears.^[4]
• 1529 – Geoffroy Tory writes arithmétique.^[5][3]
• 1751 – Machine arithmétique is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (feminine) The branch of mathematics that studies numbers, their properties and the operations on them, arithmetic.^[7][9][6]
2. The practice or art of calculating.^[6][5][7]
3. A textbook of arithmetic.^[5]
4. (literary) A way of reckoning or conjecturing.^[9][5]

Adjective

1. Relating to arithmetic, based on the science of numbers: calcul arithmétique, opération arithmétique.^[7][2]
2. Moyenne arithmétique: the arithmetic mean.^[7][10] Progression arithmétique: a progression whose terms differ by a constant amount.^[7][10]
3. (familiar) C'est arithmétique: it is certain, obvious.^[9]
4. (computing) Unité arithmétique: the part of the processor that performs arithmetic operations.^[9]

Word family

• arithméticien
• arithmétiquement

Related words

• Latin arithmētica
• Ancient Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós)

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)