Arithmetic
/ˌær.ɪθˈmɛt.ɪk/noun
The branch of mathematics dealing with numbers and basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Did you know?In medieval scholarship, arithmetic was one of the seven liberal arts, so mastering numbers was treated as a path to intellectual power, not just schoolwork.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
arithmētikḗ
“The art or science of number”
Late Latin
Latin
arithmetica
“Arithmetic; the study of numbers”
Old French
Old French
arismetique
“Arithmetic”
14th–15th Century
English
arithmetic
“The science of numbers and calculation”
Modern English
English
arithmetic
“The branch of mathematics concerned with numbers and operations”
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