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ALGOL

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Algol

  [al-gol, -gawl]
Use ALGOL in a Sentence
–noun
a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Perseus: the first known and most famous eclipsing binary star.
Also called Demon Star.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < Ar, equiv. to al the + ghūl ghoul; as trans. of Gk (Ptolemy) gorgónion the head of the Gorgon Medusa, held by Perseus

ALGOL

  [al-gol, -gawl]
Computers.
a computer language in which information is expressed in algebraic notation and according to the rules of Boolean algebra.
Origin:
1955–60; algo(rithmic) l(anguage)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Al·gol   (āl'gŏl', -gôl')   
n.  A double, eclipsing variable star in the constellation Perseus, almost as bright as Polaris.

[Arabic al-ġūl : al-, the + ġūl, ghoul; see ġwl in Semitic roots.]
AL·GOL also Algol   (āl'gŏl', -gôl')   
n.  An algebraic computer language for solving primarily mathematical and scientific problems using algorithms.

[alg(orithmic-)o(riented) l(anguage).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

Algol 
variable star in the constellation Perseus, 1390, lit. "the Demon," from Arabic al-ghul "the demon." It corresponds, in modern representations, to the gorgon's head Perseus is holding, but it probably was so called for its periodic visible dimming, which sets it apart from other bright stars. The computer language (1959) is a contraction of algo(rithmic) l(anguage) (see algorithm).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

ALGOL
ALGOL 60

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
ALGOL
Algorithmic-Oriented Language
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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