Date: Sat Jun 20 00:04:24 EDT 1998
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--lemma
lemma (LEM-uh) noun [plural lemmas or lemmata (LEM-uh-tuh)]

1. A subsidiary proposition assumed to be valid and used to demonstrate a principal proposition.

2. A theme, an argument, or a subject indicated in a title.

3. A word or phrase treated in a glossary or similar listing.

[Latin lemma, from Greek, from lambanein, to take.]


lemma (LEM-uh) noun

Botany. The outer or lower of the two bracts that enclose the flower in
a grass spikelet.

[Greek, husk, from lepein, to peel.]

I also remember calculus prof using "lemma" as name for
a small part of a proof, similar to an axiom in geometry.