-adic, suffix|ˈædɪk|[f. -ad¹ 1 a + -ic. In sense 1 after G. -adisch (K. Hensel Zahlentheorie (1913) iii. 51); in sense 2 f. polyadic a. Cf. also monadic a., dyadic a. (n.), etc.]1. Math. Used with a preceding symbol or numeral, esp. the generalized symbol p (denoting a prime number), to designate numbers expressible as a sequence of digits in the base represented by the symbol (or more generally as a power series in this quantity). Cf. -ary¹.1939Amer. Jrnl. Math. LXI. 894 In our case the ring of all p-adic integers o takes the place of the field of all real numbers.1974Encycl. Brit. Macropædia XIII. 362/2 A simple illustration of the efficiency of using p-adic numbers is the statement that -1 has a square root in the 5-adic numbers.1990Proc. London Math. Soc. LX. 37 (heading) Cell decomposition and local zeta functions in a tower of unramified extensions of a p-adic field.2. Logic. Used with a preceding symbol to designate a relation having the number of arguments represented by the given symbol. Cf. *-ary¹ 2.1940W. V. Quine Math. Logic 225 A range of n-argument functionality..is itself an n-adic relation.1975Notre Dame Jrnl. Formal Logic XVI. 87 An arbitrary k-adic operator over X(n) defined by an expression with S as the sole operator.1990Mind Cl. 137 Fusion of n singletons to form a plural class is a complex type of conjunction which conjoins n monadic universals to form an n-adic relation.

-ad·ic
adjective suffix
see -ad I

-adic

Suffix

mathematics computing Having a specific adicity.

Etymology

Back-formation from monadic, etc., from Ancient Greek -άς (-ás) (genitive -άδος (-ádos)) + -ικός (-ikós) (English -ad + -ic). Compare related adicity and Latinate -ary.

Usage notes

Combined with prefixes derived (usually) from Greek names for numbers to make adjectives meaning "having a certain number of arguments" (said of functions, relations, etc, in mathematics and functions, operators, etc, in computing).

Synonyms

(adicity): -ary

Related terms

decadic

duadic

dyadic

enneadic

heptadic

hexadic

monadic

n-adic

niladic

nonadic

octadic

pentadic

polyadic

tetradic

triadic

variadic