Etymologically
Log in

numero

Etymology and origin of the Latin word numero

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Naevius
Ultimate origin
Latin (numerus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnʊ.mɛ.roː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnuː.me.ro][1]

Forms

numerō (present infinitive numerāre, perfect active numerāvī, supine numerātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from numerus “number” with the verb suffix -ō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of paying money, and Cato, of counting.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant to count, add up, as Cicero's counting Pompey's wars, victories and triumphs, and senātum numerāre was to count the senators for a quorum.[2][4] It meant to say numerals in order, as in Cato, to count off, to reckon or compute, and in Livy to count years from some point.[2] It meant to count out money, pay, as in Plautus and Cicero, to enumerate, list, and poetically to number, possess so many, as in Ovid.[2] From Cicero it meant to include in a category, reckon among, and to regard as having a certain status.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to number, count, reckon, enumerate.[5] It survives in French nombrer and Romanian număra, and English numerate is recorded from 1721.[1][6]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius has the word.[3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of paying money.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of counting.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of counting and of reckoning among.[2][3]
  • 1721 – English numerate is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To count, add up, senātum numerāre, to count for a quorum.[2]
  2. To count off; to reckon, compute.[2]
  3. To possess so many.[2]
  4. To enumerate, list.[2]
  5. To count out money, pay.[2]
  6. To include among, reckon as.[2]

Word family

  • abnumerō
  • adnumerō
  • connumerō
  • dēnumerō
  • dīnumerō
  • ēnumerō
  • innumeratus
  • numerābilis
  • numerātiō
  • numerātor
  • numerātum
  • pernumerō

Usage notes

The adverb numerō, apparently the ablative of numerus, meant quickly, and in Plautus too soon.[2][4] The compound saepenumerō means often.[4]

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 k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Numero.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/numero. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·