EPISODE · Jul 25, 2021 · 20 MIN
Episode 99: Average
from Words for Granted - An etymology and linguistics podcast
The word "average" has anything but an average etymology. If the leading theory is correct, "average" ultimately derives from an Arabic word meaning "defect". In this episode, we explore how this Arabic word made its way into European languages through sea trade and how, given this unlikely origin, its mathematical sense emerged over time.
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Episode 99: Average
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