Word
reckoner
Phoneticsreck·on·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛkənəɹ/
UK/ɹˈɛkənɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a book or table with lists of numbers that helps you calculate things quickly. People used these before calculators existed to find answers for math or money problems.
n. a table or book of pre-calculated values used to facilitate rapid mathematical computation. Often encountered in the compound 'ready reckoner', referring to a reference tool for commercial or technical calculations.
Examples
“The merchant used a ready reckoner to calculate the tax.”
“Before the invention of the electronic calculator, engineers relied on a printed reckoner to determine structural loads.”
“The old ledger was accompanied by a tattered ready reckoner, its pages stained from years of use in the bustling dockside counting house.”
Examples
simple
“The merchant used a ready reckoner to calculate the tax.”
contextual
“Before the invention of the electronic calculator, engineers relied on a printed reckoner to determine structural loads.”
complex
“The old ledger was accompanied by a tattered ready reckoner, its pages stained from years of use in the bustling dockside counting house.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'ready reckoner'.
Real-World Examples
“Alongside the new "ready reckoner" tool that helps farms project potential offers, Irranca-Davies announced £33 million allocated for nine preparatory initiatives to "support businesses during transition to new S.” “HMRC produces a ready reckoner which estimates that a one percentage point cut in the tax would cost £3.1bn in 2022-23.” “Ready reckoners are used in the clinical setting as a tool for the estimation of nutrient intake.” “What happens is that the model produces what is known as a "ready reckoner" which is given to the bidders.” Etymology
From Middle English reknere and rekenere, cognate with Afrikaans rekenaar, Dutch Low Saxon rekener, German Rechner, Danish regner, and Swedish räknare. By surface analysis, from reckon + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
In Music
Cover shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Reckoner · 2008 · Art rock
- Artist:
- Radiohead
- Album:
- In Rainbows
Radiohead released this atmospheric art rock track as a centerpiece of their 2007 album, In Rainbows. The title uses the headword to describe a person who judges or calculates the value of things, reflecting the song's themes of human mortality and finality.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/reckoner