THE ORIGIN OF LETTERS AND NUMERALS.

all the triliteral Triliteral refers to combinations of three letters, which form the basis of most roots in Semitic languages. combinations, leaving sufficient space between two successive combinations for the addition of a new letter; then by adding an Aleph א at the beginning of each triliteral combination, we shall attain 10,648 quadriliterals Quadriliteral refers to combinations of four letters. beginning with an Aleph א. Proceeding in the same way with Bet ב, we shall obtain 10,648 quadriliterals beginning with Bet ב, and so forth with the remaining letters, which would give a total of 22⁴, or 234,256. The number of quinqueliteral Quinqueliteral refers to combinations of five letters. combinations would amount to 22⁵, or 5,153,632.

The powers of twenty-two up to 12 are as follows:

e

Thus it is evident that the twenty-two letters will admit of an infinity of combinations and arrangements, sufficient to represent not only all conceptions of the mind, but all words in all languages whatever.

The same results would be obtained, according to the Sefer Yetzirah The "Book of Formation," a foundational work of Jewish mysticism that explains the creation of the world through the manipulation of the Hebrew alphabet., by adding a letter at the end of each combination. When a letter is added at the beginning, the process is called