Word of the Day: Unicursal

Unicursal is, apparently, a mathematical term, but we shan't hold that against it.

In addition to mathematical what-nots, 'unicursal' is also used to describe a kind of maze, which makes it cool and interesting. Some may argue that, as a mathematical term, it was already cool and interesting. Those people are sad and deluded, but useful to have around so we shan't insult them too much.

'Unicursal' is an adjective which means Having, traversing, or being on one course or path (OED), and is apparently also used as a noun without taking on a nominative form, which is just dodgy if you ask me. You shouldn't be able to say "I'm following a unicursal at the moment and won't be able to speak to you until I finish", although I'm sure it's the sort of thing people would say all the time - seeing the propensity amongst human beings to forget that adjectival words are meant to describe the noun in the sentence, not be the noun.

Basically, the word 'unicursal' describes situations where there is only one path or direction to follow. A figure in which the whole is transcribed in one route - a maze in which there are no branches to follow and no wrong turns to take.

If my interpretation of the concept is correct, one should be able to undertake a unicursal route within any "true" maze, even if it is not technically a unicursal maze. I remember reading once that a "true" maze (according to the precepts of some obscure maze designing school) is one in which you could follow the wall and it would take you through every point of the maze and back out again. This is the origin of the theory that, if you get lost in a maze or a labyrinth, you should put one hand against a wall and follow it and you will eventually get out. These are also known as "branching" mazes - to separate them from island mazes, in which the walls don't all touch.

I have been in a number of branching mazes and one or two island mazes ("false" mazes?), and I can tell you that the branching mazes feel different, somehow. The island mazes just felt strangely random - as though there was no rhyme or reason to them - while the branching mazes felt like a controlled environment. It's almost as though you can feel the design. Even when you take the short-cuts, go up the wrong path, get horribly lost and somehow manage to get right through the maze without ever finding that damn target in the heart of the thing, you still feel as though you're following something. There's more of a sense of purpose to your movements. Plus, you always have that confidence that if you just follow the wall you'll eventually get out...

'Unicursal' is also used to describe any number of shapes created by a continuous line, such as the unicursal hexagram and a number of designs popular in Celtic themed art. Apparently, the Celts had quite a thing for unicursal patterns.

I suppose one could quite happily use the word 'unicursal' to describe any metaphoric journey in which someone could only follow one path - with no chance of branching off in any direction.

See if you can use it sometime this week.