quaternion

[kwuh-tur-nee-uh n] /kwəˈtɜr ni ən/
noun
1.
a group or set of four persons or things.
2.
Bookbinding. four gathered sheets folded in two for binding together.
3.
Mathematics.
  1. an expression of the form a + bi + cj + dk, where a, b, c, and d are real numbers; i 2 = j 2 = k 2 = −1; and ij = −ji = k, jk = −kj = i, and ki = −ik = j.
  2. a quantity or operator expressed as the sum of a real number and three complex numbers, equivalent to the quotient of two vectors. The field of quaternions is not commutative under multiplication.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English quaternioun < Late Latin quaterniōn- (stem of quaterniō), equivalent to Latin quatern(ī) four at a time + -iōn- -ion
Examples from the web for quaternion
  • Real fractals only work in even dimensions due to quaternion properties.
  • The two systems use different ephemeris files as well as different algorithms to process quaternion, gyro, and gyro drift data.
British Dictionary definitions for quaternion

quaternion

/kwəˈtɜːnɪən/
noun
1.
(maths) a generalized complex number consisting of four components, x = x0 + x1i + x2j + x3k, where x, x0…x3 are real numbers and i² = j² = k² = –1, ij = –ji = k, etc
2.
another word for quaternary (sense 5)
Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin quaterniōn, from Latin quaternī four at a time
quaternion in Science
quaternion
  (kwə-tûr'nē-ən)   
Any number of the form a + bi + cj + dk where a, b, c, and d are real numbers, ij = k, i2 = j2 = -1, and ij = -ji. Under addition and multiplication, quaternions have all the properties of a field, except that multiplication is not commutative.
quaternion in the Bible

a band of four soldiers. Peter was committed by Herod to the custody of four quaternions, i.e., one quaternion for each watch of the night (Acts 12:4). Thus every precaution was taken against his escape from prison. Two of each quaternion were in turn stationed at the door (12:6), and to two the apostle was chained according to Roman custom.