millesimal
/mɪˈlɛsɪm(ə)l
/adjective
Consisting of thousandth parts; thousandth.The purity or fineness of silver alloys is now described using the millesimal system in most countries....
- The millesimal fineness is usually rounded to a three figure number, particularly where used as a hallmark.
- The carat system is increasingly being complemented or superseded by the millesimal fineness system in which the purity of precious metals is denoted by parts per thousand of pure metal in the alloy.
noun
A thousandth part.Maternal and foetal mortality can only be measured in millesimals, and in Hungary there have been about 2,000 planned home births altogether....
- The purity is known as its fineness and is measured in millesimals.
- In the metric system, employed for most official uses in continental Europe, the grade of gold jewelry is expressed in millesimals.
Derivatives
millesimally
- In recent years it has become common to refer to alloys millesimally, that is in ‘parts per thousand’.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Latin millesimus (from mille 'thousand') + -al.