mathematical English · revision 10373

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 15th century|origins=la-med mathematicus|origins=grc μαθηματικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˌmæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪ.kəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from Medieval Latin mathēmaticus or mathēmaticālis, of mathematics,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from Latin mathēmatica (see [[mathematics]]), with the suffix [[-al]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from Greek [[m|grc|μαθηματικός|tr=mathēmatikós|t=scientific]], from máthēma, learning, science, from the base of manthánein, to learn.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to mathematics: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1530 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Learned in mathematics is from 1522,^(OED 1989) and adapted to mathematical operations, as ''mathematical instruments'', from 1625.^(OED 1989) Of proofs or precision, resembling mathematics, exact, it is from 1662,^(OED 1989) and constructed with mathematical regularity from 1776.^(OED 1989) By 1765 it could refer to the quadrivium, the four mathematical arts of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music.^(Etymonline) ''Mathematical linguistics'' is from 1951.^(OED 1989) Possible according to mathematics but highly improbable, as ''a mathematical chance'', is a later sense.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – mathematical.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1522 – learned in mathematics.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1625 – mathematical instruments.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1662 – exact, precise.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1951 – mathematical linguistics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to [[mathematics]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Precise or exact.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Absolute or certain.^(AHD)

+ # Possible in theory but very unlikely: ''a mathematical chance''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mathematically]]

+ * [[nonmathematical]]

+ * [[semimathematical]]

+ * [[unmathematical]]

+ * [[mathematical induction]]

+ * [[mathematical logic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mathematics]]

+ * [[math]]

+ * [[mathematician]]

+ * [[polymath]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}