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Hex vs Dex - What's the difference?

hex | dex |

As nouns the difference between hex and dex

is that hex is an evil spell or curse while dex is an order or factor of ten. Used both to refer to the function \mathrm{dex}(x) = 10^x and the number of (possibly fractional) orders of magnitude separating two numbers. When dealing with log to the base 10 transform of a number set the transform of 10, 100, and 1 000 000 is \log_{10}(10) = 1, \log_{10}(100) = 2, and \log_{10}(1 000 000) = 6, so the difference between 10 and 100 in base 10 is 1 dex and the difference between 1 and 1 000 000 is 6 dex.

As a verb hex

is to put a hex (a spell, especially an evil spell) on.

hex

English

(wikipedia hex)

Etymology 1

First attested about 1830, from (etyl)

Verb

  • To put a hex (a spell, especially an evil spell) on.

    • Noun

    (hexes)
  • An evil spell or curse.
  • A witch.
  • (rare) A spell (now rare but still found in compounds such as hex sign and hexcraft).

    • Etymology 2

    Short for hexadecimal.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (computing, informal)

    • Etymology 3

    Short for hexagon.

    Noun

    (es)
  • A hexagonal space on a game board.
  • a hexagon-shaped item of rock climbing equipment intended to be wedged into a crack or other opening in the rock.

    • See also

    (climbing) nut

    References

    English terms with multiple etymologies

    dex

    English

    Etymology 1

    Contraction of "decimal exponent".

    Noun

    (dexes)
  • (physics, and, astrophysics) An order or factor of ten. Used both to refer to the function \mathrm{dex}(x) = 10^x and the number of (possibly fractional) orders of magnitude separating two numbers. When dealing with log to the base 10 transform of a number set the transform of 10, 100, and 1 000 000 is \log_{10}(10) = 1, \log_{10}(100) = 2, and \log_{10}(1 000 000) = 6, so the difference between 10 and 100 in base 10 is 1 dex and the difference between 1 and 1 000 000 is 6 dex.
  • * 2004 , Cartledge et al 2004, The Homogeneity of Interstellar Oxygen in the Galactic Disk'', Abstract, ''The Astrophysical Journal , Volume 613, Issue 2, pp. 1037-1048,
    • The data points for low- paths are scattered more widely than those for denser sight lines, because O/H ratios for such paths shorter than 800 pc are generally about 0.10 dex lower than the values for longer ones.
    See also
    * order of magnitude, decibel

    Etymology 2

    By shortening.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (informal) dextromethorphan

    • Etymology 3

    By shortening.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (gaming) dexterity
  • * 2000 , "Billy Shields", The truth about offhand procs'' (on newsgroup ''alt.games.everquest )
    • Establish a proccing percentage of a weapon by putting it in the primary hand and then put it in your offhand and check the proccing percentage with varying levels of dual wield skill (while keeping level and dex constant).

    Anagrams

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