Pyth`a*go"re*an (?), a. [L. Pythagoreus, Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to Pythagoras (a Greek philosopher, born about 582 b. c.), or his philosophy.

The central thought of the Pythagorean philosophy is the idea of number, the recognition of the numerical and mathematical relations of things.

Encyc. Brit.

Pythagorean proposition(Geom.), the theorem that the square described upon the hypothenuse of a plane right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares described upon the other two sides. -- Pythagorean system(Astron.), the commonly received system of astronomy, first taught by Pythagoras, and afterward revived by Copernicus, whence it is also called the Copernican system. -- Pythagorean letter. See Y.

Pyth`a*go"re*an (?), n. A follower of Pythagoras; one of the school of philosophers founded by Pythagoras.