Definition:Algorithm/Linguistic Note

Linguistic Note on Algorithm

The word algorithm ultimately derives from the name Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.

It is strongly believed that it is the result of linguistic evolution of the archaic term algorism, with which algorithm ought not be confused (although some sources do not make the distinction).

The term was seen in German literature in its Latin form algorithmus at around the time of Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, where the classical algorithms were referenced.

Sources

• 1971: Allan Clark: Elements of Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Introduction
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $0$ Zero
• 1997: Donald E. Knuth: The Art of Computer Programming: Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1.1$: Algorithms
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $0$ Zero
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): algorithm
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): algorithm
• 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): algorithm