porism

porism [ˈpɔːrɪzəm]

n

(Mathematics) a type of mathematical proposition considered by Euclid, the 3rd century bc Greek mathematician, 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

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

porismatic  [ˌpɔːrɪzˈmætɪk] adj

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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.

See also: Mathematics