arithmetic

Where does the word "arithmetic" come from? It comes from Greek arithmos, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Arithmetic’s story begins in Greek: arithmos meant “number.” The root word for number itself. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as arsmetrique. Carried into French as the art of numbers. It reached English by 1300s as arithmetic. Settled as the word for the mathematics of numbers. Today, arithmetic means the branch of mathematics dealing with numbers and operations on them.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient arithmos "number", the root word for number itself.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval arsmetrique "the art of computing with numbers", carried into French as the art of numbers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s arithmetic "the branch of mathematics dealing with numbers", settled as the word for the mathematics of numbers.