gnomon
|gno-mon|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɑːmən/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɒmən/
indicator; pointer
Etymology
'gnomon' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'gnōmōn', where 'gnōmōn' meant 'one who knows; judge; indicator'.
'gnomon' changed from Ancient Greek 'gnōmōn' into Latin as 'gnomon' and was borrowed into Middle English as 'gnomon', keeping the basic form into modern English.
Initially it meant 'one who knows' or 'judge', but over time it evolved into the more concrete sense of 'an indicator' such as a sundial's pointer and, in mathematics, an L-shaped or incremental figure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the part of a sundial that casts the shadow used to indicate the time (the dial's pointer or style).
The gnomon of the sundial cast a long shadow at noon.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in geometry and number theory, an L-shaped figure or the piece added to a figure to form a larger similar figure; also the difference between successive figurate numbers (e.g. the odd numbers are gnomons that generate square numbers).
In number theory the odd numbers act as gnomons that build successive square numbers.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/26 10:00