zephirum

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Latin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

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[edit]

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative zephirum zephira
Genitive zephirī zephirōrum
Dative zephirō zephirīs
Accusative zephirum zephira
Ablative zephirō zephirīs
Vocative zephirum zephira

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • New Latin: zerum