incommensurable
English
editEtymology
editFrom Middle French incommensurable, from Medieval Latin incommensurabilis.
Its full etymology is equivalent to that of in- + commensurable.
Pronunciation
edit- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪnkəˈmɛnʃ(ə)ɹəbəl/, /ɪnkəˈmɛnsjʊəɹəbəl/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɪn.kəˈmɛnt͡ʃ.ɹə.bəl/, /ɪn.kəˈmɛn(t).sə.ɹə.bəl/, /ɪn.kəˈmɛn(t).sə.ɹə.bəl/
Adjective
editincommensurable (comparative more incommensurable, superlative most incommensurable)
- (mathematics, of two real numbers) having a ratio that is not expressible as a fraction of two integers.
- The side and diagonal of a square are incommensurable with each other; the diameter and circumference of a circle are incommensurable.
- (mathematics, of two integers) having no common integer divisor except 1.
- Not able to be measured by the same standards as another term in the context.
Usage notes
editThe term contrasts with unmeasurable and immeasurable in that both mean "not able to be measured at all", with the latter generally being because of some infinite quality of the thing being described.
Related terms
editTranslations
edithaving no common divisor except 1
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not able to be measured by same standards
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun
editincommensurable (plural incommensurables)
- An incommensurable value or quantity; an irrational number.
- 1946, Bertrand Russell, chapter 3, in History of Western Philosophy:
- Unfortunately for Pythagoras, his theorem led at once to the discovery of incommensurables, which appeared to disprove his whole philosophy.
Further reading
edit- “incommensurable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “incommensurable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “incommensurable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
French
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Late Latin incommēnsūrābilis.
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editincommensurable (plural incommensurables)
- (mathematics) incommensurable
- immeasurable
- Synonym: immense
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- “incommensurable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
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