analysis

Forms

analysis f (genitive analysis or analyseōs or analysios); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (análusis, “a loosening, resolution”),^[1][2][3][4] from ἀναλύω (analúō, “to unloose; to analyse”), from ἀνά (aná, “up, back”) and λύω (lúō, “to loosen”).^[1][5][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates its first record to Albertus Magnus, whose commentary on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics uses it for a part of logic, the resolution of a thing into its principles or causes.^[4][2] Alexander Neckam also uses it, with reference to Aristotle's Analytics.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Wiktionary gives it a medieval sense in mathematics.^[1] English took it over in the 1580s, in the sense “resolution of anything complex into simple elements”, the opposite of synthesis.^[5]

Timeline

• 13th century – Albertus Magnus uses it for the resolution of a thing into its principles.^[2][4]
• 1580s – Borrowed into English as analysis.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, logic) Analysis, the resolution of something into its principles or causes; the part of logic treated in Aristotle's Analytics.^[2][3][6]
2. (Medieval Latin, mathematics) Analysis.^[1]

Related words

• English analysis

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson