[comp.text] TeX an acronym?

martin@mipos3.UUCP (02/07/87)

Computer trivia:  TeX is not an acronym for anything; it's disguised
Greek.  TEX is just Tau Epsilon Chi (to use the usual English spelling
for the characters.

tropp@cthce.UUCP (02/12/87)

In article <424@mipos3.UUCP> martin@mipos3.UUCP (Martin Harriman) writes:
>Computer trivia:  TeX is not an acronym for anything; it's disguised
>Greek.  TEX is just Tau Epsilon Chi (to use the usual English spelling
>for the characters.

It comes from the (feminine) word (i) texni ((Eta) TauEpsilonChiNuEta)
(pronounced 'ee technee' with ch like in German ach or J in spanish Jaime,
the english speaking may try an overemphasized 'h'-sound)
which means '(the) art' or '(the) skill'. This applies to Modern Greek.

Hints of this can be seen in The TEX Book by Donald E Knuth.

wtho@cgcha.UUCP (02/13/87)

in article <424@mipos3.UUCP>, martin@mipos3.UUCP (Martin Harriman) says:
> Computer trivia:  TeX is not an acronym for anything; it's disguised
> Greek.  TEX is just Tau Epsilon Chi (to use the usual English spelling
> for the characters.

You find the origin of the word TeX, and its correct spelling on
page 1 of "The TeXbook" (chapter 1: The Name of the Game).

T. Hofmann, CIBA-GEIGY AG, Scientific Computer Center, Basle, Switzerland
UUCP: ...!mcvax!cernvax!cgcha!wtho