different between quadral vs quadrel

English

Etymology

From New Latin quadralis, from quadru- (“four-”) + -alis

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?kw?d??l/

Noun

quadral (countable and uncountable, plural quadrals)

1. (grammar) A grammatical number referring to four (or more) things.
   • 2008, Martin Haspelmath, Language typology and language universals: an international handbook, volume 1, page 819:

     There is a question as to whether there are also languages with quadrals (for reference to four entities). However, having raised the issue of paucals, we shall first continue the analysis of these, and only then return to the question […]
2. (mathematics) A set of points with all the combinatorial properties of a quadric (a quadric being the set of points of PG(n, q) whose coordinates satisfy a quadratic equation).
3. (rhetoric) A set of four phrases, separated by pauses when speaking or commas when writing.
   • 1932, John Hubert Scott, Zilpha Emma Chandler, Phrasal patterns in English prose, page 268:

     thanks to the rhythma,

     in dividing correctly

     many simple quadrals,

     in more involved sentences

     our arrangement shows regularly

     these simple quadrals

     expanding into "periods,"

4. A foursome.

Adjective

quadral (not comparable)

1. (grammar) Referring to four (or more) things; of, in or relating to the quadral grammatical number.
2. (mathematics) Of or relating to quadral polynomials.

Usage notes

• No instance of this grammatical phenomenon has been attested in human languages. See also Grammatical number.

See also

• (grammatical numbers) grammatical number; singular, dual, trial, quadral, paucal, plural ^{(Category: en:Grammar)}

English

Noun

quadrel (plural quadrels)

1. (archaic) A square brick or tile; a quarrel.
2. A square piece of turf.