zephirum
Latin
Etymology
First used in 1202 by Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, borrowed from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr, “nothing”, “cipher”). Not related to zephyrus.
Pronunciation
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈd͡ze.fi.rum/, [ˈd̪͡z̪ɛːfirum]
Noun
zephirum n (genitive zephirī); second declension
- (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
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
- cifra f
Descendants
- New Latin: zerum
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