numerous English · revision 4097

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1425|origins=la numerus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈnjuː.mər.əs/, US /ˈnuː.mɚ.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|numerous]],^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|la|numerōsus]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) partly through Middle French numereux,^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|numerus|t=a number]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source of [[number]], with the suffix [[-ous]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Consisting of a large number”: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably before 1425 in a translation of Higden's Polychronicon according to Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED's evidence starts later: “plentiful, comprising many units” from about 1586,^(OED 1989) “many, of great number”, the main modern use, from 1622,^(OED 1989) and “consisting of many individuals” from 1647.^(OED 1989) “Containing many people, crowded” is from about 1611.^(OED 1989) An old sense “measured, rhythmic, harmonious”, after Latin numerus “rhythm”, is from 1589,^(OED 1989) and “that can be numbered” (1638) is obsolete.^(OED 1989) In Wiltshire it was once an adverb, “very”: “I be numerous fond o' puddin”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1425 – consisting of a large number.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1586 – plentiful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – rhythmic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1622 – many.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Amounting to a large [[number]]; many: ''numerous complaints''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Consisting of many individuals or parts.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[numerously]]

+ * [[numerousness]]

+ * [[overnumerous]]

+ * [[supernumerous]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[number]]

+ * [[numeral]]

+ * [[enumerate]]

+ * [[innumerable]]

+ * [[numerical]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}