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What does the prefix Myria mean?

Published in Metric Prefixes 2 mins read

The prefix "Myria-" signifies a factor of ten thousand (10,000 or 10^4) and is an obsolete decimal metric prefix.

Understanding the Myria- Prefix

The prefix Myria- (symbol my) was a decimal metric prefix used to denote a factor of 10,000. This means that if something were measured using Myria-, its value would be ten thousand times the base unit. For instance, a "myriameter" would be 10,000 meters. Despite its clear definition, Myria- is now considered obsolete and is no longer part of the official International System of Units (SI).

Origin and Characteristics

The etymology of Myria- can be traced back to the ancient Greek word μύριοι (mýrioi), which means "myriad." Historically, a myriad referred specifically to a count of ten thousand, or more generally, an indefinitely large number. This origin directly reflects the numerical value the prefix represented.

While other metric prefixes like "kilo-" (10^3) and "mega-" (10^6) became widely adopted and remain standard components of the SI system, Myria- did not achieve similar permanence. Its disuse means it is rarely, if ever, encountered in modern scientific, engineering, or everyday measurements. For more detailed historical context, you can refer to the Wikipedia page on Myria-.

Key Facts About Myria-

To summarize the essential information about this historical prefix:

Feature Description
Meaning Ten thousand
Factor 10^4
Symbol my
Origin From the Greek μύριοι (mýrioi), meaning "myriad" (ten thousand)
Status Obsolete; not part of the modern International System of Units (SI)

Historical Examples (No Longer Current)

Although Myria- is no longer in use, historically, one might have theoretically encountered terms such as:

  • Myriameter: Equivalent to 10,000 meters (10 km).
  • Myriagram: Equivalent to 10,000 grams (10 kg).

These examples illustrate how the prefix would have functioned, emphasizing the magnitude it represented before its discontinuation from official measurement standards.