An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To perform a mathematical process; to reckon; to make an estimate of; evaluate. → compute; → count; → mathematics; → statistics.

Etymology (EN): Calculate, from L.L. calculare, calculat-, from L. calculus “small stone, pebble” (used in reckoning), dim. of calx, calc- “limestone,” from Gk. khalix “small pebble,” kakhlex “round pebble,“cf. O.E. hægl, hagol “hale,”
from W.Gmc. *haglaz, O.H.G. hagal, O.N. hagl, Ger. Hagel “hail”, PIE *kaghlo- “pebble, hail.” The Pers. cognate is probably the Lori hogela “big stone.”

Etymology (PE): Afmârdan, from prefix af- + stem mar- + infinitive suffix -idan. The Mod.Pers. prefix af- “to, up, upon,” occurring in several words (e.g. afzudan, afruxtan, afsar, afsâr, afqân), derives from O.Pers./Av. abiy-/aiwi- “to, upon, against;” cf. Skt. abhi-, Gk. amphi-. The stem mar-, mâr- “count, reckon, measure,” which occurs in several Mid./Mod.Pers. terms (e.g. ošmârdan, šomârdan, šomordan “to count, to calculate,” âmâr “computation, arithmetic; statistics,” âmârdan “to reckon, to calculate,” bimar “countless,” nahmâr “great, large, big”), is related to the Av. base mar- “to have in mind, remember, recall,” hišmar-; cf.
Skt. smr-, smarati “to remember, he remembers,” L. memor, memoria, Gk. mermera “care,” martyr “witness.”