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Mathematics

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means the science of number and space

Where does the word "mathematics" come from? It comes from Greek mathēmatikē, adopted directly into English (1580s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
mathēmatikē
Greek · ancient
"science of learning"
Greek, from 'manthanein', to learn
2
Stage 2 of 2
mathematics
English · 1580s
"mathematics"
'maths' and 'math' are 1900s abbreviations
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Read the full story

Mathematics’s story begins in Greek: mathēmatikē meant “science of learning.” Greek, from 'manthanein', to learn. It reached English by 1580s as mathematics. 'maths' and 'math' are 1900s abbreviations. Today, mathematics means the science of number and space.