Where does “number” come from?

Number comes from Middle English nombre, from Old French nombre, from Latin numerus meaning "a sum of units," ultimately related to Latin -arius.

number (English): An abstract entity used to describe quantity; A...

Definitions

  1. An abstract entity used to describe quantity; A...

Ancestry of “number”, step by step

number traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English numb

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnumbPhysically unable to feel, not having the power...
2EnglishnimTo take or seize; To filch, steal; To walk with...
3Middle Englishnimento take
4Old Englishnimanto take, seize
5Proto-West Germanicnemanto take
6Proto-Germanicnemanąto take
7Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take

via Middle English number

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishnumberAlternative form of nombre
2Anglo-NormannoumbreAlternative form of nonbre
3Old FrenchnombreAlternative form of nonbre
4Latinnumerusnumber; collection, quantity; rank, position
5Proto-Italicnomezos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeannémesos—

Words derived from “number”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →