mathematics | ˌmaθ(ə)ˈmatɪks |
plural noun [usually treated as singular]
the abstract science of number, quantity, and space, either as abstract concepts (pure mathematics), or as applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering (applied mathematics): a taste for mathematics.
  • [often treated as plural] the mathematical aspects of something: James immerses himself in the mathematics of baseball.
    • origin
    mid 16th century: plural of obsolete mathematic ‘mathematics’, from Old French mathematique, from Latin (ars) mathematica ‘mathematical (art)’, from Greek mathēmatikē (epistēmē), from the base of manthanein ‘learn’.
    artifice | ˈɑːtɪfɪs |
    noun [mass noun]
    clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others: an industry dominated by artifice | [count noun] : the style is not free from the artifices of the period.
    origin
    early 16th century (in the sense ‘workmanship’): from Anglo-Norman French, from Latin artificium, based on ars, art- ‘art’ + facere ‘make’. Late Middle English has the form artificie, directly from Latin.