hypothenusal

[HYPOTENUSAL.] Ay-poth-ě-nūse, hy-pot-ě-nūse, s . [Fr. hypot . énuse , from Lat. hypo then us a , from Gr. hypotein ous a ( gramme ) = the subtending(line): hypo =under, and teinō -to stretch.] Geom.: The name given to that side of a right angled triangle which subtends, or is opposite to, the right angle. Its property-that the square described on it is equal to the sum of the squares described on the other two sides-is demonstrated (1.47), and generalized, so as to apply to any figure (VI. 31) in Euclid. The discovery of this property is attributed to Pythagoras. [LUNES.]