numerus Latin · revision 4720

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Naevius|origins=ine-pro *nem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnʊ.mɛ.rʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnuː.me.rus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''numerus''' ''m'' (genitive numerī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*nomeso-]], from [[ine-pro|*nem-|t=to assign, allot]], probably a thematized form of the s-stem seen in [[nemus]] “grove”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan explains the /o/ by analogy with a word [[ine-pro|*nom-o-|t=rank, number]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|νέμω|tr=némō|t=to distribute]], [[grc|νόμος|tr=nómos|t=custom, law]] and [[got|𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽|tr=niman|t=to take]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Classical Latin it was a number, a total, a sum of units in mathematics, a number in a series, and plurality.^(OLD 2012) It was a rank or category, a Roman military unit, and in music and verse time and rhythm.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Grammarians used it of grammatical number.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it kept its mathematical senses, such as ''numerus aureus'' “the golden number” of the calendar.^(DMLBS) It survives as [[fr|nombre]] and [[ro|număr]].^(Wiktionary) English ''number'' is recorded around 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero calls the number seven the knot of almost all things.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''number'' is recorded, through Anglo-French ''noumbre''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|number]], total.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A sum of units; a number in a series.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Plurality, a large number.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A rank, category; a military unit.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(music, poetry)'' Time, [[m|en|rhythm]]; a verse.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Number.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[innumerus]]

+ * [[numerālis]]

+ * [[numerārius]]

+ * [[numerius]]

+ * [[numerō]]

+ * [[numerōsus]]

+ * [[numerābilis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[numerātiō]]

+ * [[numerātor]]

+ * [[numerātus]]

+ * [[numerōsē]]

+ * [[numerōsitās]]

+ * [[numerōsiter]]

+ * [[nummus]]

+ * [[nemus]]

+ * [[en|number]]

+ * [[en|numerous]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore wrote that grammatical number is so called because it shows whether nouns are singular or plural.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}