Talk:Algorizmi

RFV discussion: October–November 2020
Latin. Tagged by 92.184.97.173 on 30 June, not listed. J3133 (talk) 06:51, 27 October 2020 (UTC)


 * At some time the proper noun Algorizmi came to be interpreted as the Latin 2nd-declination genitive singular of the term Algorismus, which then was interpreted as a common noun, meaning a method of calculating with these newfangled “Indian” numerals. The discussion of this semantic jump here cites a codex from the starting with Incipit liber Algorizmi, which presumably was written to mean The book of al-Khwarizmi begins but can also be read as The book of the algorism begins. The codex itself is often referred to as the Liber Algorizmi. The Latin title of the translation of al-Khwarizmi's book, De Numero Indorum (“On the Indian numbers”) was presented as Algorizmi de Numero Indorum, which could either mean “Al-Kwarizmi on the Indian numbers” or “Algorisms for the Indian numbers“ – now with  being the nominative-plural case ending. Many spelling variations existed (Alchoarismi, Algorismi, Algoritmi). It is very likely that a diligent search will find three uses of the term in the spelling Algorizmi in Latin manuscripts. It is less clear if these will unambiguously be proper nouns identifying the referent as a person. The ms. depicted, Dixit Algorizmi, is one clearly unambiguous use.  --Lambiam 09:45, 31 October 2020 (UTC)
 * What a pointless listing, if literally a manuscript containing it is pictured on the page. Besides as Lambiam mentions it is even in a book title. Fay Freak (talk) 23:50, 1 November 2020 (UTC)