repetend

[ rep-i-tend, rep-i-tend ]

noun
  1. Mathematics. the part of a repeating decimal that is repeated, as 1234 in 0.123412341234. …

  2. Music. a phrase or sound that is repeated.

  1. Prosody. a word, phrase, line or longer element that is repeated, sometimes with variation, at irregular intervals in a poem.

Origin of repetend

1
1705–15; <Latin repetendum that which is to be repeated, neuter gerund of repetere to repeat

Words Nearby repetend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repetend in a sentence

  • Poe created the fifth line of his stanza for the magic of the repetend.

    The Raven | Edgar Allan Poe
  • True, America is free; but in order to establish tradition some one must be a repetend—a repeating decimal.

    The Trimmed Lamp | O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for repetend

repetend

/ (ˈrɛpɪˌtɛnd, ˌrɛpɪˈtɛnd) /


noun
  1. maths the digit or series of digits in a recurring decimal that repeats itself

  2. anything repeated

Origin of repetend

1
C18: from Latin repetendum what is to be repeated, from repetere to repeat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for repetend

repetend

[ rĕpĭ-tĕnd′ ]


  1. The digit or group of digits that repeats infinitely in a repeating decimal. The repetend of the decimal form of 512 (0.4166666…) is 6.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.