Algorism

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Algorism \Al"go*rism\, Algorithm \Al"go*rithm\, n. [OE.
     algorism, algrim, augrim, OF. algorisme, F. algorithme (cf.
     Sp. algoritmo, OSp. alguarismo, LL. algorismus), fr. the Ar.
     al-Khow[=a]rezm[imac] of Khow[=a]rezm, the modern Khiwa,
     surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Mus[=a], author of a work
     on arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated


     into Latin, such books bearing the name algorismus. The
     spelling with th is due to a supposed connection with Gr. ?
     number.]
     1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero;
        computation with Arabic figures.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. the Arabic system of numeration.
  
     Syn: decimal system
          [WordNet 1.5]
  
     3. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as,
        the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  algorism
       n 1: the Arabic (or decimal) system of numeration
       2: computation with Arabic figures