quinary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   consisting of five parts or arranged in groups of five

   The proposed quinary classification divided the organisms into five parallel groups.

2. 2
   adj

   using five as a numerical base, with the digits zero through four

   A quinary numeral system records quantities in powers of five.

3. 3
   noun

   a group, division, or system of five

   The theorist treated each quinary as a complete set of five related classes.

From Latin quinarius, 'containing five each,' from quini, 'five each or five at a time,' plus -arius. English uses the term both for five-part arrangements and for base-five notation.

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