percentile etymology

Etymology:

The word "percentile" originates from the following Latin roots:

  • Centum: meaning "hundred"
  • Per: meaning "by" or "through"

Meaning:

A percentile is a numerical measure that divides a distribution into 100 equal parts. It represents the percentage of data values below a specific point in the distribution.

Origin:

The concept of percentiles was first developed by Francis Galton in the late 19th century. He used percentiles to measure and describe the distribution of various traits and characteristics in human populations.

The term "percentile" was first coined by Galton in 1885 in his book "Natural Inheritance." He wrote:

"The term percentile, which I have recently introduced, ... implies a division of the whole series of observations into a hundred equal parts."

Galton's work on percentiles revolutionized the field of statistics and provided a valuable tool for analyzing data distribution. Today, percentiles are widely used in various fields, including statistics, education, psychology, and the social sciences.

percentile relate terms

  • percent

    Etymology Origin Latin per centum meaning by the hundred Origin French pour c

  • hundred

    Etymology The word hundred comes from the Old English word hundrēd meaning group

  • mark

    Etymology The name Mark is derived from the Proto Indo European root merk meaning

  • score

    Etymology Old English scoru notch on a stick Proto Germanic skurraz to scratch M

  • grade

    Etymology The word grade comes from the Latin word gradus which means step or de

  • history

    Etymology Greek ἱστορία historia inquiry knowledge acquired by investigati

  • metaphor

    Etymology The word metaphor comes from the Greek word μεταφορά metaphorá whi

  • wait

    Etymology Old English wæht Proto Germanic wahti Proto Indo European weh t woh t

  • protocol

    Etymology The word protocol comes from the Greek word protokollon which means the f

  • matrix

    Etymology The English word matrix is derived from the Latin word matrix meaning wo

  • devotion

    Etymology The word devotion comes from the Latin word devotio which means dedicatio

  • dandy

    Etymology The word dandy is derived from the Scottish dander meaning to strut abou