numéral

Forms

numéral (feminine numérale, masculine plural numéraux, feminine plural numérales)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin numerālis (“denoting a number or rank (in grammar)”),^[2][3][4] which is derived from Latin numerus (“number”), the source of nombre.^[5][6][7][3] The TLFi dates the borrowing to 1475 (the date of the edition), the Grand Robert and the GLLF to 1474.^[2][5][6]

Cognate with Occitan numeral, Spanish numeral and Italian numerale.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in the Mystère de l'Incarnation (1474 or 1475), in the mathematical phrase proporcion numerale, a proportion expressed by numbers.^[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

The word began in mathematics: Rabelais uses science numeralle for arithmétique in 1534.^[2][3] From 1690, lettres numérales are the letters used as figures, as in Roman numerals.^[2][3][6] Its grammatical use, of a word that expresses number, is attested from 1550 in Meigret's grammar;^[2][3] the adjectif numéral ordinal is recorded from 1690 and the adjectif numéral cardinal from 1874.^[6]

Used as a noun, un numéral (a numeral word) is recorded in 1933 by Marouzeau.^[6] Littré also lists cartes numérales (the cards that count by their pips) and arithmétique numérale, ordinary arithmetic as opposed to algebra.^[7]

Timeline

• 1475 – Proporcion numerale appears in the Mystère de l'Incarnation (date of the edition).^[2]
• 1534 – Rabelais writes science numeralle for arithmetic.^[2][3]
• 1550 – Meigret uses it in grammar for words that express number.^[2][6]
• 1690 – Furetière records lettres numeralles and the ordinal numeral adjective.^[2][6]
• 1874 – Larousse records adjectif numéral cardinal.^[6]
• 1933 – Marouzeau uses un numéral as a noun.^[6]
• 1959 – The Robert records symboles numéraux.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. numeral, numeric: denoting or representing a number, or made up of numbers: le système numéral des Mayas.^[8][4][1]
2. Symboles numéraux: signs, letters or figures that represent numbers, also lettres numérales, the letters used as numbers in old alphabets, as in Roman numerals.^[8][4]
3. (grammar) Expressing number: adjectif numéral cardinal (quantity, see cardinal) and adjectif numéral ordinal (rank, see ordinal).^[8][9][4]

Noun

1. (grammar) A numeral, a word expressing number: les numéraux du latin.^[8][9][1]

Related words

• nombre
• numération
• numéraire
• numérique
• numéro
• Latin numerālis
• Latin numerus

Usage notes

The masculine plural is numéraux.^[1][8] Rey's dictionary uses the noun for every word expressing number, whether cardinal (douze), ordinal (douzième), collective (douzaine) or fractional.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)