Definition of sum

The word "sum" has its roots in Old English and is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "samiz", which is also the source of the Modern English word "same". In Old English, "sum" was used to mean "together" or "at the same time", and was often used in phrases such as "sum and some" to mean "together with". As mathematics developed, the word "sum" took on a new meaning, referring to the result of adding numbers together. This sense of the word emerged in the 14th century and has been used consistently since then. Despite its origins in Old English, the modern meaning of "sum" is largely a product of the mathematical tradition, particularly the work of Italian mathematicians such as Luca Pacioli in the 15th century.