Number

Number

Noun / Verb / Adjective · /ˈnʌm.bər/

Definition

(Noun) a mathematical value used for counting, measuring, and labelling; a word, symbol, or figure representing such a value; a quantity or count; an item in a sequence; a telephone number; an issue of a publication; (Verb) to assign a number to; to amount to; to count; (Adjective, comparative: number) more numb — informal, dialectal.

Origin

From Old French nombre and Latin numerus (number, quantity), from Proto-Indo-European *nem- (to assign, to allot) — the same root as nemesis (Greek: the goddess of distribution and retribution), nome (an administrative division), and nimble. Number therefore being, etymologically, that which is assigned or allotted — a portion or share. The Latin numerus giving numerous, numeral, enumerate, innumerable, and the -nomy suffix in words like astronomy and economy.