algorism
(ˈælgərɪz(ə)m)
Forms: α. 3–6 augrim, 4 -ym, 5 -ime, -yme, awgrym, algram, 6 agrym(e, -ime, 7 agrum, algrim. β. 4–6 algorisme, 5 -ysme, algarism, 6 algarosme, aulgorism(e, augrisme, 7–9 algorism, algorithm.
[a. OFr. augorisme, algorisme, augorime; ad. med.L. algorism-us (cf. Sp. guarismo cipher), f. Arab. al-Khowārazmī, the native of Khwārazm (Khiva), surname of the Arab mathematician Abu Ja'far Mohammed Ben Musa, who flourished early in the 9th c., and through the translation of whose work on Algebra, the Arabic numerals became generally known in Europe. (Cf. ‘Euclid’ = plane geometry.) Algorisme being popularly reduced in OFr. to augorime, English also shows two forms, the popular augrime, ending in agrim, agrum, and the learned algorism which passed through many pseudo-etymological perversions, including a recent algorithm in which it is learnedly confused with Gr. ἀριθµός ‘number.’]
1. a. The Arabic, or decimal system of numeration; hence, arithmetic. numbers of algorism, the Arabic or Indian numerals. cypher in algorism, the figure 0; a ‘mere cipher,’ a dummy.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 214 [He] makeð þerinne figures of augrim, ase þeos rikenares doð {thbar} habbeð muchel uorto rikenen. 1340 Ayenb. 1 Þe capiteles of þe boc..byeþ ywryte..by þe tellynge of algorisme. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. (1872) 5 Ouer the wiche degrees ther ben nowmbres of augrym. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 89 Of arsmetique the matere Is..What algorisme in nombre amounteth. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeless iv. 53 As siphre..in awgrym, That noteth a place, and no thing availith. 1483 Cath. Ang., Algarism (v.r. Algram); algarismus, abacus. 1530 Palsgr. 476/2, I caste an accomptes with counters after the aulgorisme maner. Ibid. 684/2, I reken, I counte by cyfers of agrym. 1532 More Conf. Barnes viii. Wks. 1557, 772/1 Mysse-pryntynge those fygures of Algorisme, because the figure of .9. and the figure of .6. be all in maner one, if thei be contrary turned. 1542 Recorde Gr. Artes (1575) 40 Corruptyle written..Augrim for algorisme, as the Arabians sounde it. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. Moriæ Enc. L iij b, Other men stande for no more than Ciphres in Algorisme. 1561 T. N[orton] Calvin's Inst. (1634) Pref. 3, I have..quoted the Sections also by their due number with the usuall figure of Algorisme. 1553–87 Foxe A. & M. III. 265 As a Cypher in Agrime. 1566 Drant Hor. Sat. ii. B 2 As well by augrisme tell the gravell of the sea. 1591 Garrard Art Warre 129 Good knowledge in the Mathematikes specially in Algarosme, Algebra, and Geometrie. 1593 Peele Edw. I, 84 Neither one, two, nor three, but a poor cypher in agrum. 1625 L'Isle Du Bartas 140 The treasures hoard of Algrim mysteries. 1699 Phil. Trans. XXI. 262 The Indian Algorism (or Calculation by the Numeral Figures now in use). 1837 Hallam Hist. Lit. I. i. ii. §30. 114 Matthew Paris observes that in Greek..any number may be represented by a single figure, which is not the case..in Algorism. 1861 T. Wright Ess. Archæol. II. xv. 70 The figures of the algorismus are identical in every respect with the characters of the abacus. |
b. attrib. algorism-stones, counters.
| c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 24 His augrym stoones, leyen faire apart. a 1535 More Let. (J.), I send now to my good daughter Clement her algorisme stone. |
2. = algorithm 2.
| 1960 [see algorithm 2]. |