unknown quantityn.

Brit.

/(ˌ)ʌnˌnəʊn ˈkwɒntᵻti/, U.S.

/ˌənˌnoʊn ˈkwɑn(t)ədi/

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: unknown adj., quantity n.

Etymology: < unknown adj. + quantity n.

1. Chiefly Mathematics. A quantity that is not known; spec. any of the quantities in an equation, inequality, or other mathematical relation whose values are not known; = unknown n. 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > particular qualities > unspecified or indeterminate

so many1533

indeterminationa1620

unknown quantity1633

unknown1817

X1847

uncertainty1853

1633 H. Gellibrand in T. James Strange Voy. App. sig. R By reason of the vnknowne quantity of a Degree in a giuen measure..Varieties of aduerse winds, Different sets of Tydes, and other inuolued incomberances, they come often wide of the mark.

a1652 S. Foster Elliptical Horologiography (1654) 173 Therefore you may now finde the three unknown quantities.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Equation The Root of an Equation, is the Value of the unknown Quantity in the Equation.

1827 Trans. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 2 430 It was reserved for Francis Vieta to introduce the first scientific notation and to represent known and unknown quantities by letters.

1928 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 18/1 The result is often a terrifying mathematical problem with two dozen different unknown quantities to be determined.

2015 B. FLetcher Anyone can do Algebra xiii. 67 Sometimes two unknown quantities have to satisfy several inequalities at the same time.

2. figurative and in extended use. A person or thing of unknown or untested significance, quality, ability, etc.; something the importance, value, or effect of which is yet to be established.

ΚΠ

1827 Atlas 30 Sept. 617/3 Kean, junior, is to be thrown into the balance on the side of Drury Lane; but he is a wholly unknown quantity.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 134 Her husband was an unknown quantity.

1951 Sport 30 Mar. 6/3 Mel Ford, the Aberavon prop who gets a ‘cap’ is an unknown quantity in the North.

1973 Times 16 Apr. 14/2 Unless some formula is found for substantial alternative investments for Arab oil money it will continue to be an unknown quantity on the world money market.

2004 J. Burchill Sugar Rush (2005) 26 The new head, Mrs Rockminster, was still an unknown quantity.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	unknown quantity
释义	unknown quantityn. Brit. /(ˌ)ʌnˌnəʊn ˈkwɒntᵻti/, U.S. /ˌənˌnoʊn ˈkwɑn(t)ədi/ Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: unknown adj., quantity n. Etymology: < unknown adj. + quantity n. 1. Chiefly Mathematics. A quantity that is not known; spec. any of the quantities in an equation, inequality, or other mathematical relation whose values are not known; = unknown n. 3. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > particular qualities > unspecified or indeterminate so many1533 indeterminationa1620 unknown quantity1633 unknown1817 X1847 uncertainty1853 1633 H. Gellibrand in T. James Strange Voy. App. sig. R By reason of the vnknowne quantity of a Degree in a giuen measure..Varieties of aduerse winds, Different sets of Tydes, and other inuolued incomberances, they come often wide of the mark. a1652 S. Foster Elliptical Horologiography (1654) 173 Therefore you may now finde the three unknown quantities. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Equation The Root of an Equation, is the Value of the unknown Quantity in the Equation. 1827 Trans. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 2 430 It was reserved for Francis Vieta to introduce the first scientific notation and to represent known and unknown quantities by letters. 1928 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 18/1 The result is often a terrifying mathematical problem with two dozen different unknown quantities to be determined. 2015 B. FLetcher Anyone can do Algebra xiii. 67 Sometimes two unknown quantities have to satisfy several inequalities at the same time. 2. figurative and in extended use. A person or thing of unknown or untested significance, quality, ability, etc.; something the importance, value, or effect of which is yet to be established. ΚΠ 1827 Atlas 30 Sept. 617/3 Kean, junior, is to be thrown into the balance on the side of Drury Lane; but he is a wholly unknown quantity. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Silverado Squatters 134 Her husband was an unknown quantity. 1951 Sport 30 Mar. 6/3 Mel Ford, the Aberavon prop who gets a ‘cap’ is an unknown quantity in the North. 1973 Times 16 Apr. 14/2 Unless some formula is found for substantial alternative investments for Arab oil money it will continue to be an unknown quantity on the world money market. 2004 J. Burchill Sugar Rush (2005) 26 The new head, Mrs Rockminster, was still an unknown quantity. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1633
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