Nummer German · revision 35643

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1531, abbreviation No. in merchants' language|origins=la numerus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈnʊmɐ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Nummer''' ''f'' (genitive Nummer, plural Nummern, diminutive Nümmerchen n)^(Wiktionary)

+ The Italian form ''Numero'' was taken over first and survives in the abbreviation ''No.'' and the sign №; the Germanised ''Nummer'' appears in the 18th century, with ''mm'' to mark the short vowel.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|661)^(DWB|13, 981)

+ Regionally the word has had other genders: Bavarian ''der Nummer'', Hessian and Nassau ''das Nummer''.^(DWB|13, 981)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|numero|t=number]], a word of the merchants' language borrowed in the 16th century, from [[la|numerus|t=number, figure]].^(Kluge 2011|661)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|589) It became feminine after [[Zahl]].^(Kluge 2011|661)^(Wiktionary) Kluge relates the Latin noun ultimately to [[nehmen]], and Wahrig derives it from the root [[ine-pro|*nem-|t=to count, arrange]].^(Kluge 2011|661)^(Wahrig Herkunftswörterbuch)

+

+ The Latin word was also taken over directly as a term of grammar, [[Numerus]] (17th century), and the verb [[nummerieren]] (mid-16th century) is from [[m|la|numerō|t=to count]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|589) The same word is [[nl|nummer]] and [[sv|nummer]], and [[en|number]] and [[fr|numéro]] are related loans.^(Kluge 2011|661)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest record is the abbreviation ''No.'' in the merchants' language in 1531; the full form ''Numero'' is recorded from the mid-16th century.^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the number that marks a thing in a series the word came to mean the thing itself: a ticket in a lottery, an issue of a periodical (1792, Laukhard), the size of a shoe or garment (recorded 1905), and short for a telephone or car number.^(DWB|13, 981)^(Paul 2002) Adelung records ''eine gute Nummer bei jemandem haben'' “to be well regarded by someone”, which GWDS traces to school marks.^(Adelung 1793|3, 537)^(Duden GWDS 1999) In the circus and variety theatre a ''Nummer'' is an act on the programme (1937), which gave ''eine große Nummer'' “an important person” and the colloquial sense “a character”.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Die Nummer eins'', the best of its kind, is recorded from 1787 (Heinse); ''auf Nummer sicher'', originally of a prisoner in a numbered cell, from 1866.^(Paul 2002)^(Duden GWDS 1999) The slang ''eine Nummer schieben'' “to have sex” is recorded in 1952.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ The German word passed into [[pl|numer]], [[ru|номер|tr=nómer]] and [[da|nummer]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1531 – The abbreviation ''No.'' is used in the merchants' language.^(Paul 2002)

+ * Mid-16th century – ''Numero'' and ''numerieren'' (1570) are recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 18th century – The Germanised feminine ''Nummer'' appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 1787 – ''die Nummer eins'' is used by Heinse.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1792 – ''Nummer'' is used for an issue of a periodical.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1866 – ''in Numero Sicher'' “in safe custody” appears in the ''Grenzboten''.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1937 – ''Nummer'' is recorded for an act in a circus or variety programme.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|number]] that identifies something or gives its place in a series, such as a house, room, telephone or shirt number: ''Ich wohne in Zimmer Nummer zwölf.'' ''Gib mir doch deine Nummer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[m|en|issue]] of a newspaper or magazine: ''Der Artikel erscheint in der nächsten Nummer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The [[m|en|size]] of shoes or clothes: ''Haben Sie die Jacke eine Nummer kleiner?''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(regional)'' A school mark.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # An [[m|en|act]] in a circus, cabaret or variety programme;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary) ''(colloquial)'' a piece of popular music: ''Die Band spielte ihre bekannteste Nummer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A person of a particular kind, a [[m|en|character]]: ''Dein Onkel ist eine komische Nummer.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(slang)'' An act of sexual intercourse.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nummerieren]]

+ * [[Numerus]]

+ * [[Nummernschild]]

+ * [[Telefonnummer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[numerisch]]

+ * [[Numerale]]

+ * [[en|number]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Nummer eins'' is the leading person or product in a field, and ''Nummer null'' (colloquial) the toilet.^(Duden GWDS 1999) ''Auf Nummer sicher gehen'' is to take no risks, and ''auf Nummer sicher sitzen'' to be in prison;^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002) ''eine Nummer zu groß für jemanden'' is beyond someone's means or abilities.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}