numerosus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [nʊ.mɛˈroː.sʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [nu.meˈrɔː.s̬us]^[1]

Forms

numerōsus (feminine numerōsa, neuter numerōsum, adverb numerōsē or numerōsiter); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin numerus (“number, rhythm”) + -ōsus.^[2][1] Wiktionary takes numerus back to Proto-Italic *nomezos, from Proto-Indo-European *nem- (“to distribute”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in the Orator, says the arrangement of feet makes not only verse but rhythmical prose.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it meant harmonious, rhythmical, of speech, and Columella uses it of a well-proportioned chest of an animal.^[2][4] After Augustus it meant containing many units, numerous, many, abundant, as Manilius' heaps of bronze and Pliny's mountain with many names.^[2][5] It meant having many parts or kinds, varied, as Columella's many-bedded garden, and prolific, as Pliny's animals with many young.^[2][6] Pliny calls a painter prolific and a picture with many figures numerōsa tabula.^[4]

In medieval Latin it kept the sense of containing many people or things.^[7] English numerous is recorded in the early 15th century.^[8]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of rhythmical prose.^[2][3]
• 1st century AD – Manilius uses it of many heaps.^[2][3]
• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a mountain with many names.^[2][3]
• early 15th century – English numerous is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Rhythmical, harmonious; well proportioned.^[2][1]
2. Consisting of many; numerous, abundant.^[2][5]
3. Varied, manifold.^[2][6]
4. Prolific.^[2][4]

Word family

• innumerosus
• numerōsitās
• numerōsē
• numerōsiter

Related words

• numerābilis
• numerālis
• numerārius
• numerātiō
• numerātor
• numerātus
• numerius
• numerō
• numerus
• English numerous

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com