Meanings
plural algorisms
- countableobsoleteuncountableObsolete spelling of algorithm (all senses).
The Algorism in Addition of Fractions. — There are two accepted forms of work in addition of fractions...
1921, Paul Klapper, The Teaching of Arithmetic: A Manual for Teachers, D. Appleton and Company, page 231 - historicaluncountableCalculation with Arabic numerals.
The works of al-Khowarizmi were translated into Latin, and through a perversion of his name the art of computing with Hindu-Arabic numerals became known as algorism.
1948, Øystein Ore, Number Theory and Its History, page 20
Origin
- Arabicال (al-)
- Old Persian*𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼- (*u-v-a-r-)
- Old Persian*𐏀𐎷𐎡- (*z-mi-i-)
- Old Persian𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷𐎡𐎹 (u-v-a-r-z-mi-i-y)
- Old Persian𐎢𐎺𐎠𐎼𐏀𐎷𐎡𐏁 (u-v-a-r-z-mi-i-š)
- Classical Persianخْوَارَزْم (xwārazm)
- Arabicخَوَارِزْم (ḵawārizm)
- Arabicـِيّ (-iyy)
- Arabicخَوَارِزْمِيّ (ḵawārizmiyy)
- Arabicالخَوَارِزْمِيّ (al-ḵawārizmiyy)
- Medieval Latinalgorismu
- Anglo-Normanalgorisme
- Middle Englishalgorisme
- Englishalgorism
From Middle English algorisme, from Old French algorisme, from Medieval Latin algorismus. See algorithm.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Medieval Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
algorism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algorism
“algorism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algorism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “algorism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/algorism.
Source: algorism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.