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What is the origin of infinitesimal?
Infinite, as you probably know, means "endless" or "extending indefinitely." It is ultimately from Latin infīnītus, the opposite of fīnītus, meaning "finite." The notion of smallness in infinitesimal derives from the mathematical concept that a quantity can be divided endlessly; no matter how small, it can be subdivided into yet smaller fractions, or infinitesimals. The concept was still in its infancy in the early 1700s when Irish philosopher George Berkeley observed that some people "assert there are infinitesimals of infinitesimals of infinitesimals, etc., without ever coming to an end." He used the word in a mathematical sense, too, referring to "infinitesimal parts of finite lines." Later, the adjectival form acquired a general sense applicable to anything too small to be measured.
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Examples of infinitesimal in a Sentence
Cullen Murphy, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024
The movie’s physicality, at its most vital, is infinitesimal.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
Big Think, 24 June 2024
Initially, Newton and Leibniz came up with objects called infinitesimals.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for infinitesimal 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infinitesimal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near infinitesimal
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“Infinitesimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infinitesimal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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