EUCLID'S DEFINITION OF MULTIPLICATION CORRECTLY TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH BY PIERRE FORCADEL.
In 1565 Pierre Forcadel gave the following French translation of Euclid's definition of multiplication.
Un nombre, se dict multiplier un autre nombre, quand autant d'unitez, qu'il y a en luy, autant de fois se compose le multiplie, & en naist un autre.
"A number is said to multiply an other number, when as many units, there are in it, as many times the multiple is composed, and another number is born."
Forcadel was Professor of mathematics at the University of Paris.
The translation appeared in Les septieme huictieme et neufieme livres des Elemens d'Euclide , meaning The seventh, eighth and ninth book of the Elements of Euclid.
The Title page of Forcadel's edition of Books VII - IX of Euclid's Elements can be seen below.
Pierre Forcadel's Euclid's Elements Books VII, VIII and IX Title Page
Forcadel's Translation of Euclid's multiplication definition, listed as the 16th, can be seen below. Click the image
to enlarge it.
Pierre Forcadel's Translation of Euclid's Definition of Multiplication #16