Chapter Summary

A walled scholarly enclave whose members live under a strict Discipline, distinct from the surrounding extramuros world. Maths are central to the "mathic" world and are protected and regulated, with limited use of technology inside their walls.

Orth is a language used within the mathic world, contrasted with extramuros speech such as Fluccish. The Dictionary distinguishes multiple historical forms—Old Orth, Middle Orth (sometimes divided into Early and Late), Praxic Orth, and New Orth.

An avout of a Decenarian math who serves as amanuensis to Fraa Orolo during an interview with an extramuros artisan. Collected into the math ten years prior, he is familiar with extramuros speech and duties within the math, such as tending the great clock at Provener.

An authority within the mathic community who enforces the Discipline and assigns penance. The office is referenced both in supervising visitors/devices and in internal discipline, with Suur Trestanas known to impose penances for lapses such as neglecting clock‑winding.

A named hour within the math’s routine, signaled by the great clock’s chimes. At Provener, the clock is wound, and visitors may be permitted to observe under supervision.

An in-world reference work that compiles definitions and tracks shifts in meaning across forms of Orth. It is cited as an authority in a 4th edition dated A.R. 3000.

A library building within a Decenarian math, used by avout and occasionally accessed by supervised visitors for necessary repairs. It hosts study and interviews and comes into focus when an extramuros artisan is admitted to address a rotted rafter shortly before Apert.

An avout known as Fraa Lio in a Decenarian math. A solidly built peer of Fraa Erasmas, he serves on the clock‑winding team and is noted for earthy pragmatism, sudden bouts of wrestling, and occasional forgetfulness.

A roofed gallery encircling a rectangular garden at the heart of a math, serving as a quiet, contemplative space and a thoroughfare connecting key buildings. The term’s meaning in Orth has varied historically; here it refers to the central courtyard and surrounding walkway within the math.

A term within the mathic world for a short list of especially proscribed plants. Items on the list are burned on sight and their appearance is recorded in the Chronicle.

An authoritative rulebook cited within the math to govern permitted practices. It is specifically used to determine which plants may be cultivated, including a list known as the "One Hundred and Sixty-four."

An old body of books and lore referred to by avout, often shortened to "vlor." It serves as a source of classical terms and examples that avout use to frame discussions and observations.

An official written record maintained inside a math, referenced as the place where certain actions or observations are logged under the Discipline. It is mentioned in connection with handling prohibited plants.

A long strip of cloth worn by avout as part of their everyday habit. It serves multiple purposes—hood, wrap, and modesty covering—and is commonly secured and adjusted with a chord.

A named “general type” referenced in mathic iconography. It is listed among archetypal figures depicted around a Cloister; its specific meaning is not yet explained in the text.

An archetypal "general type" referenced in mathic iconography. It is noted among carved figures seen along a cloister walkway inside a math.

An original library building within a math that opens directly onto the Cloister. It is noted for an ancient, glass‑smooth stone floor described as far older than the floor of the New Library.

A simple cord worn by avout around the waist to secure and adjust the bolt. It is also used to tie and carry a rolled bolt when slung over the shoulder.

A personal, size-adjustable ball used by avout within a math. It can be shrunk to palm size by tracing counterclockwise circles on its surface and serves as a portable seat or for balancing.

A simple knot used by avout to secure the bolt of their garment for modesty. It is observed in use when Lio wraps the selvage end of his bolt around his waist and between his thighs.

A revered figure cited within the mathic tradition, known for "Saunt Taunga’s Question" about whether a sufficiently large field of cellular automata can think.

A general-type figure referenced in mathic iconography, mentioned among the carved motifs surrounding a Cloister garden within a math. Its precise definition has not been given in-text so far.

A sanctioned list of plant species permitted for cultivation under the Second New Revised Book of Discipline, used to govern what may be grown in a Decenarian math’s gardens.

A cane-forming plant observed in a math’s Cloister garden. It is not among the One Hundred and Sixty-four plants permitted for cultivation under the Second New Revised Book of Discipline, but also not among the Eleven that must be destroyed on sight.

A term within the mathic world for younger, novice members who assist and learn under elder avout. They are seen working beside a fraa in the Scriptorium, and The Dictionary refers to “younger fids.”

A.R. is a date-style notation seen in in‑world citations, e.g., “A.R. 3000” attached to the Fourth Edition of The Dictionary. It appears to mark an era or calendar used within mathic contexts, though its full expansion has not yet been explained.

A form of address and title used within maths for male avout. It precedes a person’s name (e.g., “Fraa Lio”), with the plural "fraas" used for groups.

A suur who serves as the Warden Regulant within a Decenarian math. She is noted for imposing penance on Fraa Lio after he neglected his clock‑winding duty.

A dedicated workroom within the math used for copying books and manuscripts. Entered through a stone arch, it is notable for a pervasive ink smell and connects by a smaller doorway to the Old Library on the Cloister.

An honorific used within the mathic world for female avout. It is placed before a personal name (e.g., “Suur Trestanas”) and used collectively as “suurs.”

A named philosophical problem attributed to Saunt Taunga, asking whether a sufficiently large field of cellular automata can think. It is invoked by Fraa Erasmas during a discussion about ant coordination.

A historical figure cited in The Dictionary as having been confined in a "cloister" before being executed. The citation is used to illustrate an older meaning of the word "cloister."

A named building within a math that opens onto the Cloister’s walkway around the central garden. It is listed alongside the Old Library and chalk halls as one of the structures accessible from the Cloister.

An archetypal “general type” referenced in mathic iconography. It is noted among carved figures seen along a cloister walkway inside a math; its specific meaning has not yet been explained in the text.