porism

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porism

(ˈpɔːrɪzəm)

(Mathematics) a type of mathematical proposition considered by Euclid, the meaning of which is now obscure. It is thought to be a proposition affirming the possibility of finding such conditions as will render a certain problem indeterminate or capable of innumerable solutions

[C14: from Late Latin porisma, from Greek: deduction, from porizein to deduce, carry; related to Greek poros passage]

porismatic, porismatical adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

porism

Rare. a kind of geometrical proposition of ancient Greek mathematics arising during the investigation of some other proposition either as a corollary or as a condition that will render a certain problem indeterminate. — porismatic, adj.