mathematics English · revision 7428

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1581|origins=grc μάθημα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ ''(UK)''; /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the plural of Middle English methametik, mathematik (see [[mathematic]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) probably after French (les) mathématiques,^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|mathematica]], from Greek [[m|grc|μαθηματικὴ τέχνη|tr=mathēmatikḕ tékhnē|t=mathematical science]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|grc|μάθημα|tr=máthēma|t=something learned; knowledge]], from [[m|grc|μανθάνω|tr=manthánein|t=to learn]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The science of quantity: 1581 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1580s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The singular methametik is from before 1387, in Trevisa.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that the word took its final -s later, on the pattern of [[physics]].^(Cresswell 2021) It was originally one of the three branches of Aristotelian theoretical science, with first philosophy (metaphysics) and physics.^(Etymonline) Originally the collective name for geometry, arithmetic and certain physical sciences such as astronomy and optics, it later took in other branches using mathematical methods.^(OED 1989) The abbreviations ''maths'' (British) and ''math'' (American) are later.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – methametik.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1581 – mathematics.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(used with a singular verb)'' The abstract science of number, quantity and space, including arithmetic, algebra and geometry.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(used with a plural verb)'' The mathematical aspects of something: ''the mathematics of the problem''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[biomathematics]]

+ * [[math]]

+ * [[maths]]

+ * [[metamathematics]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mathematical]]

+ * [[mathematician]]

+ * [[polymath]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}