First published 1885; not yet revised

arithmeticaladjective & noun

Meaning & use
Etymology
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

Nearby entries

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the word arithmetical mean?

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word arithmetical. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the word arithmetical?

About 0.9occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	0.94
1760	1.0
1770	1.1
1780	1.4
1790	1.6
1800	1.7
1810	1.8
1820	1.9
1830	1.9
1840	1.8
1850	1.8
1860	1.7
1870	1.7
1880	1.7
1890	1.9
1900	2.0
1910	2.1
1920	2.1
1930	2.2
1940	2.1
1950	1.8
1960	1.6
1970	1.3
1980	1.0
1990	0.78
2000	0.69
2010	0.64

See frequency

How is the word arithmetical pronounced?

British English

/arɪθˈmɛtɪkəl/

See pronunciation

Where does the word arithmetical come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1500s

The earliest known use of the word arithmetical is in the mid 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for arithmetical is from 1553, in S. Gardiner's De Vera Obediencia: an Oration.

arithmetical is a borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element.

Etymons: Latin arithmēticus, -al suffix1.

See etymology

Nearby entries

Aristotelism, n.1845–
Aristotelity, n.1651
Aristotelize, v.1842–
aristulate, adj.
Arita, n.1879–
arith., n. & adj.1600–
arithmancy, n.1587–
arithmantical, adj.1569–
arithmetic, n.¹c1305–
arithmetic, adj. & n.²1652–
arithmetical, adj. & n.1553–
arithmetically, adv.?a1560–
arithmetical ratio, n.1718–
arithmetician, n.1557–
arithmeticize, v.1878–
arithmetization, n.1902–
arithmetize, v.a1658–
arithmetizing, n.1896–
arithmic, n.1879–
arithmocracy, n.1856–
arithmocratic, adj.1862–

Browse more nearby entries

Meaning & use

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Entry history for arithmetical, adj. & n.

arithmetical, adj. & n. was first published in 1885; not yet revised

arithmetical, adj. & n. was last modified in September 2023

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into arithmetical, adj. & n. in September 2023.

Earlier versions of arithmetical, adj. & n. were published in:

OED First Edition (1885)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View arithmetical, adj. & n. in Second Edition

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