quincunx
/ˈkwɪŋkʌŋks/
noun
Origin
Latin
quincunx — five-twelfths
Overview
Meaning Now
- An arrangement of five objects in a square or rectangle, with one at each corner and one in the middle.
- A Roman coin or weight representing five-twelfths of a unit.
Literal older meaning
five-twelfths
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
quincunx
Earliest period
Roman Republic/Empire
Journey
In ancient Rome, the 'as' was the primary unit of currency, divided into 12 unciae. A quincunx was a coin worth 5 unciae. The pattern later became associated with agriculture (planting trees) and gaming (the five-dot side of a die).
Evolution
- Classical Latin
quincunx
“five-twelfths (as a fraction of an as)”
Combination of quinque (five) and uncia (twelfth/ounce)
- Early Modern English
quincunx
“an arrangement of five points”
Shift from a numeric value to a geometric pattern resembling the layout of the coin's marking
Connections
Word parts
quinque
root
five
uncia
root
twelfth
Related across languages
French
quinconce
quincunx pattern
Italian
quincunce
quincunx
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Related to quincunx
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.