[n. uh-rith-muh-tik; adj. ar-ith-met-ik] 
| 1. | the method or process of computation with figures: the most elementary branch of mathematics. |
| 2. | Also called higher arithmetic, theoretical arithmetic. the theory of numbers; the study of the divisibility of whole numbers, the remainders after division, etc. |
| 3. | a book on this subject. |
(téchnē) (art, skill) of numbers, equiv. to arithmé(ein) to reckon + -t(o)- verbal adj. + -ik -ic; r. ME arsmet(r)ike < OF arismetique < ML arismētica, with s for LGk th
| a·rith·me·tic (ə-rĭth'mĭ-tĭk) n.
[Middle English arsmetike, from Old French arismetique, from Medieval Latin arismetica, alteration of Latin arithmētica, from Greek arithmētikē (tekhnē), (art) of counting, feminine of arithmētikos, from arithmein, to count, from arithmos, number; see ar- in Indo-European roots.] ar'ith·met'i·cal·ly adv., a·rith'me·ti'cian (-tĭsh'ən) n. |