Definition:Asymptote/Linguistic Note
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Linguistic Note on Asymptote
The word asymptote is derived from the Greek ἀσύμπτωτος (asumptōtos) which means not falling together.
It was coined by Apollonius of Perga during his analysis of conic sections.
The adjectival form of asymptote is asymptotic.
Sources
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): asymptotic
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): asymptotic: 1.