Averaging

/ˈævərɪdʒɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Calculating an average by adding numbers together and dividing by how many numbers there are; balancing out or evening out differences over time.

Etymology

From 'average,' which comes from Arabic 'avariya' (damage to goods) through Old French. Originally referred to shared costs of damaged cargo, evolved to mean a typical or middle value.

Kelly Says

The word 'average' originally came from shipping insurance—if cargo was damaged, the loss was 'averaged' across all merchants involved, so it gave us both the math concept and the fairness principle!

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