Latin

edit

Etymology 1

edit

First used in 1202 by Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, borrowed from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr, nothing; cipher). Doublet of cīfra (cipher), but unrelated to zephyrus (west wind).

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

zēphirum n (genitive zēphirī); second declension

  1. (Medieval Latin, mathematics) zero
    • 1202, Leonardo Fibonacci, chapter I, in Liber Abaci[1] (arithmetics treatise):
      Novem figurae indorum hae sunt: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Cum his itaque novem figuris, et cum hoc signo 0, quod arabice zephirum appellatur, scribitur quilibet numerus, []
      These are the Indian figures: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. With these nine figures, and with this sign 0, which is called zero in Arabic, any number can be written, []
Declension
edit

Second-declension noun (neuter).

singular plural
nominative zēphirum zēphira
genitive zēphirī zēphirōrum
dative zēphirō zēphirīs
accusative zēphirum zēphira
ablative zēphirō zēphirīs
vocative zēphirum zēphira
edit
Descendants
edit
  • New Latin: zērum
  • Old Italian: zero

Etymology 2

edit

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

zephirum m

  1. accusative singular of zephirus