Revised 2018
† zenzicnoun & adjective
Factsheet
What does the word zenzic mean?
There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zenzic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the late 1500s.
Where does the word zenzic come from?
Earliest known use
mid 1500s
The earliest known use of the word zenzic is in the mid 1500s.
OED's earliest evidence for zenzic is from 1557, in the writing of Robert Recorde, mathematician and physician.
zenzic is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin zenzicus.
Nearby entries
- zenographical, adj.1853–
- zenography, n.1890–
- Zenonian, adj.¹ & n.¹1654–
- Zenonian, adj.²1756–
- Zenonian, adj.³ & n.²1837–
- Zenonic, adj.¹1779–
- Zenonic, adj.²1827–
- Zenonism, n.¹1789–
- Zenonism, n.²1935–
- zenzi-, comb. form
- zenzic, n. & adj.1557–71
- zenzicube, adj. & n.1557–1690
- zenzicubic, adj.1557–71
- zenzicubicube, n.a1690
- zenzizenzic, adj. & n.1557–1690
- zenzizenzicube, n.a1690
- zenzizenzicubic, adj.a1690
- zenzizenzizenzic, n.1557–1690
- zeolite, n.1770–
- zeolitic, adj.1782–
- zeolitical, adj.1788–
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from Latin.
Etymon: Latin zenzicus.
< post-classical Latin zenzicus, zensicus (1525 or earlier) < zensus (1525 or earlier; see note) + ‑icus ‑ic suffix.Compare zenzi- comb. form…
< post-classical Latin zenzicus, zensicus (1525 or earlier) < zensus (1525 or earlier; see note) + ‑icus ‑ic suffix.Compare zenzi- comb. form.
Notes
Post-classical Latin zensus is apparently an alteration (after German Zins interest) of census square power (1202 in Leonardo of Pisa), a specific sense development of classical Latin cēnsus census n., after Arabic māl wealth, (from 9th cent. in algebra also) square power. German Zins ‘interest’ (Old High German zins, zens, Middle High German zins) is an early loanword < classical Latin cēnsus census n.
The Latin mathematical term census was borrowed into Italian as censo (13th cent. in sense ‘interest’, late 14th cent. in mathematics in sense ‘square number’).
Meaning & use
Mathematics. Obsolete. rare.
- noun
- 1557A square number; = square n. II.8.
- 1557
Squares of Squares..of some men..are named Zenzizenzikes, as square nombers are called Zenzikes.
R. Recorde, Whetstone of Witte sig. Hiiv
the world relative properties number arithmetic or algebraic operations [nouns] multiplication into or by itself square- quadratec1450–1702Mathematics. A square number; the square of a number. Obsolete.
- square1557–Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. The product of a number multiplied by itself; a second power.
- square number1557–The product of a number multiplied by itself.
- zenzic1557A square number; = square, n. II.8.
- equilater1614–36a. Geometry. A square or cube. b. Arithmetic. A square or cube number.
- adjective
- 1571Of a number or root: square (cf. square adj. I.2a, I.2b).
- 1571
Extracte the Zenzike rootes of these numbers.
T. Digges in L. Digges's Geometrical Practise: Pantometria xxii. sig. Dd j v
the world relative properties number arithmetic or algebraic operations [adjectives] multiple of self or forming powers- solidc1430–1727Mathematics. Of number or measure: = cubic, adj. Obsolete.
- quadratec1450–1759Mathematics. Of a number or root: square. Obsolete.
- wholec1450Mathematics. Designating a number obtained by multiplying a whole number by itself twice; cubic; = solid, adj. I.2b. Obsolete. rare.
- cubic1551–Arithmetic, Algebra, etc. Relating to or involving the cube or third power of a quantity; of three dimensions, of the third degree.
- squared1557–Multiplied by itself. Also figurative.
- sursolid1557–1706Of the fifth degree; that is a fifth power or root; involving the fifth power of a quantity.
- zenzicubic1557–71Designating the sixth power or root of a number.
- cubical?a1560–Arithmetic, Algebra, etc. = cubic, adj. A.3. Obsolete except in names of certain cubic curves, as cubical hyperbola, etc.
- zenzic1571Of a number or root: square (cf. square, adj. I.2a, I.2b).
- quadrato-quadratic1647–1890Of the fourth degree, quartic.
- quadrato-cubic1654–1814(Of a number) equal to the fifth power of another number; (of an equation) of the fifth degree, quintic.
- biquadratic1668–Relating to the square of a square, or fourth power, of a number.
- = quadrato-quadratic, adj.
- square-squarea1679Biquadrate.
- powerfula1690Mathematics. Involving a square or higher power. Obsolete. rare.
- biquadrate1806–The square of the square (power or root); the fourth power in arithmetic and algebra; = biquadratic, n.
- quintic1851–Of the fifth degree; involving the fifth but no higher power of an unknown quantity or a variable.
- sextic1851–Of the sixth degree or order; involving the sixth but no higher power of an unknown quantity or a variable.
- superlinear1865–Mathematics. Involving a power greater than one; of an order greater than one. Cf. linear, adj. A.3a.
Forms
Variant forms
- 1500szenzike