From: "Fred lunnon" <fred.lunnon@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [math-fun] etymology
One way and another, this terminology is rather overworked. I'm currently trying to recast elementary geometry in terms of Clifford algebra, so frequently trying to avoid referring simultaneously to normal subgroups, vectors normal to a surface, and (the only remotely justifiable use of the word) normalised coordinates.
What issue do you have with vectors being normal to a surface? That term is not just entirely justifiable, but I'd contend that it's the single best justified use of the term out of the three you give. The OED dates that usage back to 1650. No other use of the word as an adjective has a longer history. Phil () ASCII ribbon campaign () Hopeless ribbon campaign /\ against HTML mail /\ against gratuitous bloodshed [stolen with permission from Daniel B. Cristofani] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com