Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Calculator

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

edit

CALCULA'TOR. An accountant (Mart. Ep. x. 62.): so called because the ancients used to reckon with small stones (calculi) upon a board covered with sand. (Isidor. Orig. x. 43. ABACUS.) The example (Calculator/1.1) is from an Etruscan gem, and represents an arithmetician sitting at a table on which the pebbles for making his calculations are seen, while the counting board, inscribed in Etruscan characters, which are interpreted to mean "a calculator," is held in his left hand.

References

edit