On Friday, August 25, 2017 at 6:55:46 AM UTC+5:30, Ben Bacarisse wrote: > Steve D'Aprano writes: > > > On Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:41 am, bob gailer wrote: > > > >>> Help on built-in function floor in module math: > >>> > >>> floor(...) > >>> floor(x) > >>> > >>> Return the floor of x as an Integral. > >>> This is the largest integer <= x. > > [...] > > > >> I was surprised by the use of "integral". A dictionary search does not > >> (IMHO) support this usage! > > > > Integral \In"te*gral\, a. [Cf. F. int['e]gral. See Integer.] > > For me (and I suspect for BG too) the surprise is in its use as a noun. > The capital letter is, presumably, significant because it refers to the > Python class Integral -- a subtype of numbers. > > With that in mind, "an Integral" is a shorthand for "an Integral value", > or more fully, maybe, "an instance of numbers.Integral". > > > [1913 Webster] > > 1. Lacking nothing of completeness; complete; perfect; > > uninjured; whole; entire. > > [1913 Webster] > > > > A local motion keepeth bodies integral. --Bacon. > > [1913 Webster] > > > > 2. Essential to completeness; constituent, as a part; > > pertaining to, or serving to form, an integer; integrant. > > [1913 Webster] > > > > Ceasing to do evil, and doing good, are the two > > great integral parts that complete this duty. > > --South. > > [1913 Webster] > > > > 3. (Math.) > > (a) Of, pertaining to, or being, a whole number or > > undivided quantity; not fractional. > > (b) Pertaining to, or proceeding by, integration; as, the > > integral calculus. > > [1913 Webster] > > The use as a noun is not covered here, though it is only a small step > from other places where membership of a mathematical set has turned the > adjective into a noun. "Rational" and "real" started out as adjectives, > but their use as nouns is now widespread. "The function returns a > real". "The result is a rational". It's much less common for complex > and integral, to the point that it sounds wrong to me.
Statement 1: Aeroplanes fly Statement 2: Submarines swim Are these two statements equally acceptable? [Inspired by a talk by Noam Chomsky] -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
