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quaternionmore about quaternion

quaternion

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Quaternion  \Qua*ter"ni*on\,  n.  [L.  quaternio,  fr  quaterni  four 
  each  See  {Quaternary}.] 
  1.  The  number  four  [Poetic] 
 
  2.  A  set  of  four  parts  things  or  person;  four  things  taken 
  collectively;  a  group  of  four  words  phrases, 
  circumstances,  facts,  or  the  like 
 
  Delivered  him  to  four  quaternions  of  soldiers. 
  --Acts  xii.  4. 
 
  Ye  elements,  the  eldest  birth  Of  Nature's  womb,  that 
  in  quaternion  run.  --Milton. 
 
  The  triads  and  quaternions  with  which  he  loaded  his 
  sentences.  --  Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  3.  A  word  of  four  syllables;  a  quadrisyllable. 
 
  4.  (Math.)  The  quotient  of  two  vectors,  or  of  two  directed 
  right  lines  in  space,  considered  as  depending  on  four 
  geometrical  elements,  and  as  expressible  by  an  algebraic 
  symbol  of  quadrinomial  form 
 
  Note:  The  science  or  calculus  of  quaternions  is  a  new 
  mathematical  method,  in  which  the  conception  of  a 
  quaternion  is  unfolded  and  symbolically  expressed,  and 
  is  applied  to  various  classes  of  algebraical, 
  geometrical,  and  physical  questions,  so  as  to  discover 
  theorems,  and  to  arrive  at  the  solution  of  problems. 
  --Sir  W.  R.  Hamilton. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Quaternion  \Qua*ter"ni*on\,  v.  t. 
  To  divide  into  quaternions,  files,  or  companies.  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  quaternion 
  n  :  the  cardinal  number  that  is  the  sum  of  three  and  one  [syn:  {four}, 
  {4},  {IV},  {tetrad},  {quatern},  {quaternary},  {quaternity}, 
  {quartet},  {quadruplet},  {foursome},  {Little  Joe}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Quaternion 
  a  band  of  four  soldiers.  Peter  was  committed  by  Herod  to  the 
  custody  of  four  quaternions,  i.e.,  one  quaternion  for  each  watch 
  of  the  night  (Acts  12:4).  Thus  every  precaution  was  taken 
  against  his  escape  from  prison.  Two  of  each  quaternion  were  in 
  turn  stationed  at  the  door  (12:6),  and  to  two  the  apostle  was 
  chained  according  to  Roman  custom.




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