Quantities

1 definition found

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

  Quantity \Quan"ti*ty\, n.; pl. {Quantities}. [F. quantite, L.
     quantitas, fr. quantus bow great, how much, akin to quam bow,
     E. how, who. See {Who}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The attribute of being so much, and not more or less; the
        property of being measurable, or capable of increase and


        decrease, multiplication and division; greatness; and more
        concretely, that which answers the question "How much?";
        measure in regard to bulk or amount; determinate or
        comparative dimensions; measure; amount; bulk; extent;
        size. Hence, in specific uses:
        (a) (Logic) The extent or extension of a general
            conception, that is, the number of species or
            individuals to which it may be applied; also, its
            content or comprehension, that is, the number of its
            constituent qualities, attributes, or relations.
        (b) (Gram.) The measure of a syllable; that which
            determines the time in which it is pronounced; as, the
            long or short quantity of a vowel or syllable.
        (c) (Mus.) The relative duration of a tone.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which can be increased, diminished, or measured;
        especially (Math.), anything to which mathematical
        processes are applicable.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Quantity is discrete when it is applied to separate
           objects, as in number; continuous, when the parts are
           connected, either in succession, as in time, motion,
           etc., or in extension, as by the dimensions of space,
           viz., length, breadth, and thickness.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A determinate or estimated amount; a sum or bulk; a
        certain portion or part; sometimes, a considerable amount;
        a large portion, bulk, or sum; as, a medicine taken in
        quantities, that is, in large quantities.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The quantity of extensive and curious information
              which he had picked up during many months of
              desultory, but not unprofitable, study. --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Quantity of estate} (Law), its time of continuance, or
        degree of interest, as in fee, for life, or for years.
        --Wharton (Law Dict. )
  
     {Quantity of matter}, in a body, its mass, as determined by
        its weight, or by its momentum under a given velocity.
  
     {Quantity of motion} (Mech.), in a body, the relative amount
        of its motion, as measured by its momentum, varying as the
        product of mass and velocity.
  
     {Known quantities} (Math.), quantities whose values are
        given.
  
     {Unknown quantities} (Math.), quantities whose values are
        sought.
        [1913 Webster]