zephirum

Latin

Etymology

First used in 1202 by Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, borrowed from Arabic صِفْر (ṣifr, “nothing”, “cipher”). Not related to zephyrus.

Pronunciation

• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ze.fi.rum/, [ˈd̪͡z̪ɛːfirum]

Noun

zephirum n (genitive zephirī); second declension

1. (Medieval Latin, mathematics) zero
   • 1202, Leonardo Fibonacci, chapter I, in Liber Abaci:

     Cum his itaque novem figuris, et cum hoc signo 0, quod arabice zephirum appellatur, scribitur quilibet numerus, […]

     With these nine figures, and with this sign 0, which is called zero in Arabic, any number can be written, […]

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	zephirum	zephira
Genitive	zephirī	zephirōrum
Dative	zephirō	zephirīs
Accusative	zephirum	zephira
Ablative	zephirō	zephirīs
Vocative	zephirum	zephira

Related terms

• cifra f

Descendants

• New Latin: zerum