N

	This is the JargonFile ^(V4.00) entry for N - Next: nadger, Prev: mutter
:N: /N/ /quant./ 1. A large and indeterminate number of objects: "There were N bugs in that crock!" Also used in its original sense of a variable name: "This crock has N bugs, as N goes to infinity." (The true number of bugs is always at least N + 1; see [[Lubarskys Law of Cybernetic Entomology]].) 2. A variable whose value is inherited from the current context. For example, when a meal is being ordered at a restaurant, N may be understood to mean however many people there are at the table. From the remark "Wed like to order N wonton soups and a family dinner for N - 1" you can deduce that one person at the table wants to eat only soup, even though you dont know how many people there are (see great-wall). 3. Nth: /adj./ The ordinal counterpart of N, senses 1 and 2. "Now for the Nth and last time..." In the specific context "Nth-year grad student", N is generally assumed to be at least 4, and is usually 5 or more (see tenured graduate student). See also [[random numbers]], two-to-the-N.
* (text is auto-included via JargonExtension by mutante using jargon with VERSION 4.0.0, 24 JUL 1996 - JargonFile by Eric S. Raymond is in the public domain)