www.alphadictionary.com

Here is an analemma.

And here is a lemniscate.

As you can see, "analemma" and "lemniscate" are both associated (albeit differently) with a figure-of-eight shape. The words do not appear to be etymologically related, so the spelling similarity seems an interesting coincidence.

Any thoughts?

What is the etymology of the similar letter groups? The "em", and the meaning? This is not somethong I'm at all familiar with but am interested in seeing whete this thread goes.

M.?? Bailey

Analemma comes from Latin analemma ("sundial" or "pedestal of a sundial"), from Greek analemma ("pedestal" or "support"), from analambanein ("to support"), from ana ("up") and lambanein ("to take"). Compare dilemma (from Greek for "two assumptions" or "two premises" – two things that are "taken" to be true).

Lemniscate comes from Latin lemniscus and Greek lemniskos ("ribbon").

It is interesting that we have a "lemm" word and a "lemn" word which both have some association with a figure-of-eight shape. It coincidentally brings to mind the competing spellings "dilemma" and "dilemna" (the latter erroneous), although these have nothing to do with a figure-of-eight!

Interesting comparison. Also fascinating is the evolution of the horizontal eight on the rotating chart. Math can get interesting to curious and inquiring minds. Mind is merely curious, which leads me to wonder if with limn, we could make lemnade?

As a mathematician, I make lemonade with lemmas.

It just occurred to me that the Analemma and the symbol for infinity (∞) are very similar. Could they be related?

Plus, the Ankh could almost be a stylized Analemma?

Just some random thoughts.