Etymologically
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numerosus

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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
  • 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