jargon, mathematics (From mathematical jargon) An expression
used ironically to characterise unquantifiable behaviour that
differs from expected or required behaviour. For example,
suppose a newly created program came up with a correct
full-screen display, and one publicly exclaimed: "It works!"
Then, if the program dumped
core on the first mouse click,
one might add: "Well, for suitably small values of `works'."
(1997-09-21)