Mathematics
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| '''Mathematics''' ([[Colloquialism|colloquially]], '''maths''' or '''math'''), is the body of knowledge centered on concepts such as [[quantity]], [[structure]], [[space]], and [[change]], and also the academic discipline that studies them. | '''Mathematics''' ([[Colloquialism|colloquially]], '''maths''' or '''math'''), is the body of knowledge centered on concepts such as [[quantity]], [[structure]], [[space]], and [[change]], and also the academic discipline that studies them. | ||
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| + | ===Etymology=== | ||
| + | The word ''mathematics'' comes from the [[ancient Greek language|Greek]] μάθημα (''máthēma''), which, in the ancient Greek language, means "that which is learnt", "what one gets to know", hence also "study" and "science", and in modern Greek just "lesson". The word ''máthēma'' is derived from μανθάνω (''manthano''), while the modern Greek equivalent is μαθαίνω (''mathaino''), both of which mean "to learn". In Greece, the word for "mathematics" came to have the narrower and more technical meaning "mathematical study" even in Classical times. Its adjective is {{lang|grc|μαθηματικός}} (''mathēmatikós''), meaning "related to learning" or "studious", which likewise further came to mean "mathematical". In particular, {{lang|grc|μαθηματικὴ τέχνη}} (''mathēmatikḗ tékhnē''), {{lang-la|ars mathematica}}, meant "the mathematical art". | ||
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| + | In Latin, and in English until around 1700, the term ''mathematics'' more commonly meant "astrology" (or sometimes "astronomy") rather than "mathematics"; the meaning gradually changed to its present one from about 1500 to 1800. This has resulted in several mistranslations: a particularly notorious one is [[Saint Augustine]]'s warning that Christians should beware of ''mathematici'' meaning astrologers, which is sometimes mistranslated as a condemnation of mathematicians. | ||
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| + | The apparent plural form in English, like the French plural form {{lang|fr|''les mathématiques''}} (and the less commonly used singular derivative {{lang|fr|''la mathématique''}}), goes back to the Latin neuter plural {{lang|la|''mathematica''}} ([[Cicero]]), based on the Greek plural {{lang|el|τα μαθηματικά}} (''ta mathēmatiká''), used by [[Aristotle]] (384–322 BC), and meaning roughly "all things mathematical"; although it is plausible that English borrowed only the adjective ''mathematic(al)'' and formed the noun ''mathematics'' anew, after the pattern of [[physics]] and [[metaphysics]], which were inherited from the Greek. In English, the noun ''mathematics'' takes singular verb forms. It is often shortened to ''maths'' or, in English-speaking North America, ''math''. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *[[Mathematics and art]] | *[[Mathematics and art]] | ||
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Mathematics (colloquially, maths or math), is the body of knowledge centered on concepts such as quantity, structure, space, and change, and also the academic discipline that studies them.
Etymology
The word mathematics comes from the Greek μάθημα (máthēma), which, in the ancient Greek language, means "that which is learnt", "what one gets to know", hence also "study" and "science", and in modern Greek just "lesson". The word máthēma is derived from μανθάνω (manthano), while the modern Greek equivalent is μαθαίνω (mathaino), both of which mean "to learn". In Greece, the word for "mathematics" came to have the narrower and more technical meaning "mathematical study" even in Classical times. Its adjective is Template:Lang (mathēmatikós), meaning "related to learning" or "studious", which likewise further came to mean "mathematical". In particular, Template:Lang (mathēmatikḗ tékhnē), Template:Lang-la, meant "the mathematical art".
In Latin, and in English until around 1700, the term mathematics more commonly meant "astrology" (or sometimes "astronomy") rather than "mathematics"; the meaning gradually changed to its present one from about 1500 to 1800. This has resulted in several mistranslations: a particularly notorious one is Saint Augustine's warning that Christians should beware of mathematici meaning astrologers, which is sometimes mistranslated as a condemnation of mathematicians.
The apparent plural form in English, like the French plural form Template:Lang (and the less commonly used singular derivative Template:Lang), goes back to the Latin neuter plural Template:Lang (Cicero), based on the Greek plural Template:Lang (ta mathēmatiká), used by Aristotle (384–322 BC), and meaning roughly "all things mathematical"; although it is plausible that English borrowed only the adjective mathematic(al) and formed the noun mathematics anew, after the pattern of physics and metaphysics, which were inherited from the Greek. In English, the noun mathematics takes singular verb forms. It is often shortened to maths or, in English-speaking North America, math.
See also
