zephirum

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Latin

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Etymology

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First used in 1202 by Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, borrowed from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr, nothing”, “cipher). Not related to zephyrus.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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zephirum n (genitive zephirī); second declension

  1. (Medieval Latin, mathematics) zero
    • 1202, Leonardo Fibonacci, chapter I, in Liber Abaci:
      Cum his itaque novem figuris, et cum hoc signo 0, quod arabice zephirum appellatur, scribitur quilibet numerus, []
      With these nine figures, and with this sign 0, which is called zero in Arabic, any number can be written, []

Declension

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Second-declension noun (neuter).

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Descendants

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  • New Latin: zerum