Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!selfless.tophat.at!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed5.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.005 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.99; '*S*': 0.00; 'repeatedly': 0.04; '*not*': 0.05; 'algorithms': 0.07; 'refers': 0.07; 'description.': 0.09; 'pm,': 0.11; 'wrote:': 0.14; 'definition,': 0.16; 'fits': 0.16; 'recursive': 0.16; 'sense:': 0.16; 'tue,': 0.20; 'cc:no real name:2**0': 0.20; 'usage': 0.20; 'cc:2**0': 0.20; 'programming': 0.20; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.22; 'cc:addr:python-list': 0.22; 'lee': 0.22; 'received:209.85.161.46': 0.26; 'received:mail- fx0-f46.google.com': 0.26; 'correct': 0.26; 'function': 0.27; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.28; 'definition': 0.29; 'received:209.85.161': 0.29; 'class': 0.29; 'functions.': 0.29; 'cc:addr:python.org': 0.31; '17,': 0.31; 'turns': 0.31; 'does': 0.31; 'implemented': 0.33; 'using': 0.34; 'rule': 0.35; 'formal': 0.35; 'think': 0.36; 'received:209.85': 0.37; 'exactly': 0.37; 'mathematical': 0.38; 'received:google.com': 0.38; 'used': 0.38; 'though,': 0.39; 'received:209': 0.39; 'except': 0.39; "it's": 0.40; 'header:Received:5': 0.40; 'procedure': 0.60; 'charset:windows-1252': 0.61; '2011': 0.62; 'jargon.': 0.84; 'pertaining': 0.84; 'subject:English': 0.91 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; bh=GnHIhwTt1DNlSuJP/Bu62k8LMUakloBYSOwU2My+Z+4=; b=UFwP8jFH/cEgZRlyYc2JNCn3UDjdkjzJvI3OA2s+u8uj2sOUCpgpxb7VBvH/9opr5O Pafr4yuLBHb8YdjF8oUdsD0HMj4yb8JbwkfE5eqnCzQauWjKd3ozRYjB5HZ1G7T1cndc lOOJqV/E/qL4618Quysro9/p5fD7kL34wUvdU= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc:content-type:content-transfer-encoding; b=Zf6YegGKvH8Eb0s8vlkCrirIpAMO26VXE54snAkOQDBJ1TqAz87OnaAadV7YCjUz5N A8bqSCHSz0/yL+7wqBt4G3PZHPjW0eN/lcndDxigoids+M9Dzy+6xNtBkeJf+2reoT0N ECFGPvE+bGtxF7+Ww6nDNWMyISxpDntVJSTfo= MIME-Version: 1.0 In-Reply-To: References: From: Ian Kelly Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 17:20:12 -0600 Subject: Re: English Idiom in Unix: Directory Recursively To: Xah Lee Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Cc: python-list@python.org X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 21 NNTP-Posting-Host: 82.94.164.166 X-Trace: 1305674444 news.xs4all.nl 49179 [::ffff:82.94.164.166]:35410 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:5629 On Tue, May 17, 2011 at 4:26 PM, Xah Lee wrote: > Though, if you think about it, it's not exactly a correct description. > =93Recursive=94, or =93recursion=94, refers to a particular type of algor= ithm, > or a implementation using that algorithm. Only when used as programming jargon. In mathematics, "recursive function" does *not* mean "a function implemented using a recursive algorithm". It's just a formal definition of a specific class of mathematical functions. As it turns out, "recursive" also has a non-technical definition, which again has nothing to do with algorithms except in the broadest sense: recursive adj. 1. pertaining to or using a rule or procedure that can be applied repeatedl= y (from dictionary.com) This definition fits the Unix usage perfectly.