Chilion

/ˈkɪliən/ noun

Definition

A very large but indefinite number, traditionally meaning one thousand multiplied by itself repeatedly (similar to 'million' or 'billion').

Etymology

From Greek 'chilioi' meaning 'thousand.' Medieval scholars and mathematicians created this term following the pattern of other number names, though it was rarely standardized in modern usage.

Kelly Says

The word 'chilion' reminds us that naming huge numbers is actually pretty recent—most of human history, people just said 'a lot!' The names we use for big numbers are clever logical patterns, not random words.

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