Origins of Mathematical Words: A Comprehensive Dictionary of Latin, Greek and Arabic Roots

No mathematician, I agreed to review this book on the basis that I could comment at least on the linguistic aspects. I did have the hope that reading of the etymologies of the words included, I might thereby pick up more mathematical knowledge than I possess, although that has proved to generally be an elusive hope. The book is aimed specifically at mathematicians, although the etymologies and word histories do offer much of interest and value to lexicographers also.

The author is a Professor of Mathematics in the USA, at Allegheny College, and his book is the result of “decades...