Feb 11, 2007 13:47
17 yrs ago
English term

square the circle

Non-PRO English to Latin Other Philosophy
this is in reference to Da Vinci's vitruvian man. I am doing some research and i can not get an accurate translation. Some sites I get quadratus orbis, and others are quadraturea circuli...please help

Proposed translations

+3
1 hr
Selected

circulum quadrare

'Quadrare' ('to make square') and its various forms and cognates constitute the normal technical terminology for this sort of mathemtical relations in classical Latin, as at Pliny Sr., Hist. Nat., 36.13.19, 'pes quadrata' ('a square foot' or at Gellius, Noct. Att., 1.20.4, who speaks of a 'numerus quadratus' ('square number').

If you are seeking the substantive form of this concept rather than the verbal phrase which you're requesting, it will be 'circuli quadratura' ('a squaring of a circle'), found at Apuleius, 'de dogmate Platonis', 3.
Peer comment(s):

agree Valentini Mellas
31 mins
Thanks Valentini.
agree Matthias Quaschning-Kirsch : If a verbal term is looked for, this is a perfect choice.
1 hr
Benigne dicis, Matthia.
agree slaterman : I am sorry about the confusion. I am looking for a saying or phrase, not something at all in relation to the mathematical sense of the squaring of the circle. I should have clarified what i desired.
17 hrs
Why not simplu 'quadratura' = 'a making square, squaring'. The word was not limited to mthematical use. Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
24 mins

quadratura circuli

Peer comment(s):

agree Vicky Papaprodromou
22 mins
Thanks, Vicky!
neutral Joseph Brazauskas : I would agree, but the asker is seeking to translate a verbal phrase, not a substantive one./Yes, the asker would know. There is not enough context for us to determine the exact grammatical form which he would want. But conceptually I must agree with yo
56 mins
I wondered about this. In his explanation, he mentions some terms he found and which are all nouns. So maybehe could explain what he is really looking after.
agree Valentini Mellas
1 hr
Thanks, Valentini!
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