almacabala
/ˌalməˈkabələ/ /ˌalməkəˈbalə/(also almucabala, almucabola) History of Science
noun
Originally: algebra; specifically a particular procedure for simplifying an equation. In later use chiefly: algebra as understood in the premodern period, with occult or mystical aspects retrospectively attributed to it.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in John Dee (1527–1609), mathematician, astrologer, and antiquary. From post-classical Latin almucabala, almucabola algebra, equation, also almachabel from Arabic al-muqābala from al the + muqābala comparison, confrontation, collation, verbal noun from qābala to compare, to collate, to confront.