witch of Agnesi

noun phrase

witch of Agne·​si -än-ˈyā-zē 

: a plane cubic curve that is symmetric about the y-axis and approaches the x-axis as an asymptote and that has the equation x²y = 4a²(2a − y)

Word History

Etymology

Maria Gaetana Agnesi †1799 Italian mathematician; witch, translation of Italian versiera cubic curve (influenced by Italian versiera female demon)

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above