Translating concepts: yes, but how?

From Greek to Latin… then French ---------------------------------------

The Romans, who were not well versed in theoretical thinking, drew on Greek knowledge. But how were these borrowed notions to be named? Should the Greek term be used directly, or should it be translated?

The first approach gave rise to the now-naturalized French words "parallèle", "hypoténuse", "polygone" and "isocèle". Other terms, however, were translations: kyklos became circulus, both denoting a circle. Some compound words were even translated term by term, such as isopleuros, which became aequilateralis and ultimately "équilatéral" in French.

This proved more difficult for terms representing abstract concepts unknown to the Romans. Arithmos, meaning "number", was translated as numerus, which denoted a large number—a connotation still present in French.