-ics

5 definitions found

-ics - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  -ics \-ics\
     A suffix used in forming the names of certain sciences,
     systems, etc., as acoustics, mathematics, dynamics,
     statistics, politics, athletics.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The names sciences ending in ics, as mathematics,
           mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc., are, with respect
           to their form, nouns in the plural number. The plural
           form was probably introduced to mark the complex nature
           of such sciences; and it may have been in imitation of
           the use of the Greek plurals ?, ?, ?, ?, etc., to
           designate parts of Aristotle's writings. Previously to
           the present century, nouns ending in ics were construed
           with a verb or a pronoun in the plural; but it is now
           generally considered preferable to treat them as
           singular. In Greman we have die Mathematik, die
           Mechanik, etc., and in French la metaphysique, la
           optique, etc., corresponding to our mathematics,
           mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Mathematics have for their object the
                 consideration of whatever is capable of being
                 numbered or measured.              --John
                                                    Davidson.
           The citations subjoined will serve as examples of the
           best present usage.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Ethics is the sciences of the laws which govern
                 our actions as moral agents.       --Sir W.
                                                    Hamilton.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 All parts of knowledge have their origin in
                 metaphysics, and finally, perhaps, revolve into
                 it.                                --De Quincey.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Mechanics, like pure mathematics, may be
                 geometrical, or may be analytical; that is, it
                 may treat space either by a direct consideration
                 of its properties, or by a symbolical
                 representation.                    --Whewell.
           [1913 Webster]

-ics - V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (June 2006) :

  ICS
         IBM Cabling System
         

  ICS
         International Classification for Standards (ISO)
         

  ICS
         Internet Connection Sharing (MS, IE, DHCP)
         

  ICS
         Irish Computer Society (org., Irland)