Etymologically
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numerus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnʊ.mɛ.rʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnuː.me.rus][1]

Forms

numerus m (genitive numerī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *nomeso-, from Proto-Indo-European *nem- (“to assign, allot”), probably a thematized form of the s-stem seen in nemus “grove”.[2][1] De Vaan explains the /o/ by analogy with a word Proto-Indo-European *nom-o- (“rank, number”).[2] Cognate with Ancient Greek νέμω (némō, “to distribute”), Ancient Greek νόμος (nómos, “custom, law”) and Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (niman, “to take”).[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius uses it.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was a number, a total, a sum of units in mathematics, a number in a series, and plurality.[3] It was a rank or category, a Roman military unit, and in music and verse time and rhythm.[2][1] Grammarians used it of grammatical number.[1]

In medieval Latin it kept its mathematical senses, such as numerus aureus “the golden number” of the calendar.[5] It survives as French nombre and Romanian număr.[1] English number is recorded around 1300.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero calls the number seven the knot of almost all things.[7][4]
  • c. 1300 – English number is recorded, through Anglo-French noumbre.[6]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A number, total.[3][7]
  2. A sum of units; a number in a series.[3]
  3. Plurality, a large number.[3]
  4. A rank, category; a military unit.[2][1]
  5. (music, poetry) Time, rhythm; a verse.[1]
  6. (grammar) Number.[1]

Word family

  • innumerus
  • numerālis
  • numerārius
  • numerius
  • numerō
  • numerōsus
  • numerābilis
  • numerātiō
  • numerātor
  • numerātus
  • numerōsē
  • numerōsitās
  • numerōsiter
  • nummus
  • nemus
  • English number
  • English numerous

Usage notes

Isidore wrote that grammatical number is so called because it shows whether nouns are singular or plural.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).