The Odyssey of words Third unit: mathematics 1.
mathematics
The word mathematics comes from the Greek expression "μαθηματικαί τέχναι" [mathematike tekhne] = "mathematical science". It’s the feminine of the adjective "μαθηματικός" [mathematikos] = "relating to mathematics, scientific, astronomical; disposed to learn", from «μάθημα» [mathema] (genitive «μαθήματος» mathematos) = "science, knowledge, mathematical knowledge; a lesson", literally "that which is learnt". 2.
cycle
The word cycle comes from the Greek word «κύκλος» (kyklos) = "circle, wheel, any circular body, circular motion, cycle of events," (See also the words "cyclothymia" and "tricycle"). 3.
rhombus
The word rhombus comes from the Greek word «ρόμβος» (rhomvos) = "rhombus, rhomb, lozenge; spinning top, maghic wheel used by sorcerers; a spinning motion". Specifically "rhombus" comes from the ancient Greek verb «ρέμβομαι» (rhemvome) = "to spin, whirl," "to turn, twist, bend". 4.
polygon, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon
Polygon comes from the Greek word "πολύγωνον" (polygonon) meaning "many-angled". It’s a compound word of the adjective "πολύς" (polys) = "many" and the noun "γωνία" (gonia) = "angle". Substituting the first part with the Greek numbers "πέντε" (pente) = five, "έξι" (exi) = six, "επτά" (epta) = seven and "οκτώ” (okto) = eight, we can create the following words: pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon. 5.
parallel
Parallel = "παράλληλος" is a compound word. It consists of the Greek preposition "παρά" = "beside” and the word "αλλήλοις" (allelois) = "each other" (which comes from the word "άλλος" (allos) = "other"). 6.
parallelogram
Parallelogram comes from the Greek word "παραλληλόγραμμο" meaning "bounded by parallel lines". It is a compound word of the adjective "παράλληλος" (parallelos) = parallel and the verb "γράφω" (grapho) = to write. 7.
isosceles
Isosceles means "having two equal sides", and comes from the Greek word "ισοσκελές" (isoskeles) which means "with equal legs". It's a compound word. It consists of the Greek adjective "ίσος" (isos) = "equal, identical" and the noun "σκέλος" (skelos) = "leg". 8. diameter Linda Alexopoulou – Theodoros TomarasPage 1