numéro French · revision 16511

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1589|origins=la numerus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ny.me.ʁo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''numéro''' ''m'' (plural numéros)^(Wiktionary)

+ The Académie wrote ''numero'' in 1694 and 1718 and ''numéro'' from 1740; it treated the plural as invariable until 1798.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|numero|t=number; number in a register or a lottery]], itself from [[la|numerus|t=number]], which gave French [[nombre]], its doublet.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|7, 238a) Pasquier explains that the word came in with the Italian lottery game called “blanque”, and that French then said “numéro” instead of the native “nombre”.^(Littré 1873)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first recorded in 1589, mainly in trade, for a number put on an object to distinguish it from others of the same kind.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The lottery gave ''entendre le numéro'' “to be shrewd” (1621) and ''savoir le numéro'' (1665), from knowing the number under which one's ticket was entered; later the conscription draw gave ''tirer un bon numéro'' (1871).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) From the number marking a grade of goods (1723) came ''du bon numéro'' (1808) and ''numéro un'' (1836).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) At the end of the 18th century it named an issue of a periodical (Marat, 1790), then a house number (1800) and a hotel room and its occupant (1846).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the entertainment world it is an act in a show (1879), whence ''faire son numéro'' (1901); ''un drôle de numéro'' “an odd character” goes back to ''être d'un bon numéro'' “to be ridiculous” (1844).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1589 – First record.^(TLFi)

+ * 1621 – ''Entendre le numéro'', Pasquier.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – ''Numéroter''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1790 – An issue of a periodical, Marat.^(TLFi)

+ * 1800 – A house number.^(TLFi)

+ * 1844 – ''Être d'un bon numéro'' “to be ridiculous”.^(BHVF)

+ * 1879 – An act in a show, Goncourt.^(TLFi)

+ * 1928 – ''Numéro atomique''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|number]]: ''le numéro d'une maison'', ''numéro de téléphone'', ''numéro vert'', a freephone number.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|issue]] of a periodical: ''le dernier numéro''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # An [[m|en|act]], turn in a show: ''un numéro de cirque'', ''faire son numéro'', to put on a show.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A character, an odd person: ''quel numéro!''^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A lottery ticket, ''tirer le bon numéro'', to strike lucky.^(DHLF 1992)^(Larousse)

+ # ''Numéro un'': number one, the leader.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[numéroter]]

+ * [[numérotage]]

+ * [[numérotation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nombre]]

+ * [[numéral]]

+ * [[numérique]]

+ * [[it|numero]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}