Made an error in mathematical computation or misjudged a situation's likely outcome or requirements.
From Latin 'calculare' (to reckon with pebbles) with prefix 'mis-' (wrongly). Roman accountants used small stones called 'calculi' on counting boards, giving us both 'calculate' and 'calculus' - literally meaning little stones.
The word preserves the ancient Roman practice of counting with pebbles, which is why we still say someone is 'stone cold' calculating. It's remarkable that every time we use a calculator or study calculus, we're linguistically throwing little stones on a counting board like ancient merchants.
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