Definition of quadrivium in English:
quadrivium
noun kwɒˈdrɪvɪəmkwɑˈdrɪviəm
A medieval university course involving the ‘mathematical arts’ of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.
Compare with trivium
Example sentencesExamples
- And yet our curricula still reflect the priorities of the 1893 Committee of Ten, if not the shadows of the medieval trivium and quadrivium.
- The trivium and the quadrivium represented the available means of expression.
- He then progressed to the quadrivium, studying geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy.
- Arts students studied the trivium, parts of the quadrivium, and an increasingly large amount of Aristotle.
- Pacioli's four mathematical disciplines are the antique and medieval quadrivium.
Origin
Latin, literally 'the place where four roads meet' (in late Latin 'the four branches of mathematics'), from quadri- 'four' + via 'road'.
Definition of quadrivium in US English:
quadrivium
nounkwäˈdrivēəmkwɑˈdrɪviəm
A medieval university curriculum involving the “mathematical arts” of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.
Compare with trivium
Example sentencesExamples
- He then progressed to the quadrivium, studying geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy.
- And yet our curricula still reflect the priorities of the 1893 Committee of Ten, if not the shadows of the medieval trivium and quadrivium.
- Pacioli's four mathematical disciplines are the antique and medieval quadrivium.
- Arts students studied the trivium, parts of the quadrivium, and an increasingly large amount of Aristotle.
- The trivium and the quadrivium represented the available means of expression.
Origin
Latin, literally ‘the place where four roads meet’ (in late Latin ‘the four branches of mathematics’), from quadri- ‘four’ + via ‘road’.