E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Quadriv’ium.
The four higher subjects of scholastic philosophy up to the twelfth century. It embraced music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy. The quadrivium was the “fourfold way” to knowledge; the tri’vium (q.v.) the “threefold way” to eloquence; both together comprehended the seven arts or sciences. The seven arts or sciences. The seven arts are enumerated in the following hexameter:—
