‖ uncia
(ˈʌnʃɪə)
Pl. unciæ (ˈʌnʃɪiː).
[L. uncia a twelfth part (spec. of a pound or foot): see inch n.1 and ounce n.1]
† 1. Math. (See quot. 1704.) Obs.
| 1695 Phil. Trans. XIX. 60 That admirable Invention of Mr. Newton, whereby he determines the Unciæ or Numbers prefixt to the Members composing Powers. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Unciæ, in Algebra, signify those Numbers which are prefixed before the Letters of the Members of any Power produced from a Binomial, Residual, or Multinomial Root. 1763 W. Emerson Meth. Increments 106 Where the numeral coefficients are the unciæ of the several powers of a binomial. |
2. A Roman copper coin, equal in value to the twelfth part of the ‘as’.
| 1834 Penny Cycl. II. 431/2 The Uncia,..or piece of one ounce, is marked by a single globule. 1853 Humphreys Coin-coll. Man. I. 260 The uncia here engraved is of the same period as that of the ‘as’ of nine-and-a-half ounces. |