English
algebra
Algebra comes from Medieval Latin algebra, from Arabic الْجَبْر ‘reunion, resetting of broken parts’, and ultimately from جَبَرَ ‘to set’.
- Arabicc. 500–presentجَبَرَjabara‘to set’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentالْجَبْرal-jabr‘reunion, resetting of broken parts’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500algebra
- Englishearliest quotation 1551same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Arabicc. 500–presentجَبَرَjabara‘to set’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentالْجَبْرal-jabr‘reunion, resetting of broken parts’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500algebra
- Englishearliest quotation 1551same form
Earliest quotation: 1551, James A.H. Murray, Oxford: Clarendon Press: “Also the rule of false position, with dyuers examples…”
Every English word from Arabic جَبَرَ
Today it means
noun Elementary algebra: A system for representing and manipulating unknown quantities (variables) in equations.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Arabic جَبَرَ / algebra