Eigenvalues/eigenvectors

[milne at math.toronto.edu]

The "eigen-" of "eigenvector" normally is translated as "characteristic",
and not as the other translations that I have seen here.  The idea is that
the characteristic vectors and the associated values will in certain
circumstances entirely characterize the linear transformation (for instance
over the complex numbers).

I always thought that the name was just a silly pun... "Dudley" meaning
"zero", and having zero eigenvalue, the translation is not invertible.  How
this relates to the character is beyond me.

David Milne