degree

Everyday

1. A degree is a unit for measuring how hot or cold something is. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius. tree →
2. A degree is a unit for measuring the size of an angle. A right angle is 90 degrees. tree →
3. A degree is what you get when you finish college or university. tree →
4. «To some degree» means a bit, partly. tree →
5. “By degrees” means gradually, little by little. tree →

In the lessons

maths: a unit of temperature (rises and falls) or of angles (right angle 90, straight line 180, full turn 360; a triangle's angles add up to 180); science: thermometers, Celsius and Fahrenheit, a fever; everyday life: weather reports; written ° as in 20°

Examples

• It was 15 degrees in the morning and 22 degrees at noon. tree →
• The temperature fell 6 degrees. tree →
• A right angle is 90 degrees. tree →
• The angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees. tree →
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. tree →
• Turn 360 degrees to make a full turn. tree →
• It is 75 degrees Fahrenheit today. tree →
• My sister got a degree in science. tree →
• The natives came by degrees to be less fearful of danger from me. tree →

Note

A unit: rises add, falls subtract; angle sums are fixed (triangle 180, straight line 180, full turn 360). Trap: temperatures below zero go negative. Celsius and Fahrenheit degrees are different: 0 °C = 32 °F.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Sefer Yetzirah's "paths" are said to be stages or levels of power. In Kings it means a step on a sundial, when the shadow went back ten degrees as a sign for Hezekiah. In Psalms "low degree" and "high degree" mean humble and high rank. In the primary lessons: maths: a unit of temperature (rises and falls) or of angles (right angle 90, straight line 180, full turn 360; a triangle's angles add up to 180); science: thermometers, Celsius and Fahrenheit, a fever; everyday life: weather reports; written ° as in 20°

Examples

• 3) Paths denote powers, effects, kinds, forms, degrees or stages. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
• C. to denote the absence of degrees, minutes, or seconds in their sexagesi- mal notation. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• And Hezekiah answered: 'It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.' (Prophets 2KI.20.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz. (Prophets 2KI.20.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; if they be laid in the balances, they are together lighter than vanity. (Writings PSA.62.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A unit: rises add, falls subtract; angle sums are fixed (triangle 180, straight line 180, full turn 360). Trap: temperatures below zero go negative. Celsius and Fahrenheit degrees are different: 0 °C = 32 °F.