number: [13] The etymological notion underlying the word number is probably ‘distribution’. Its ultimate source, Latin numerus, may have been related to Greek némein ‘deal out, distribute’ (source of English nemesis and related to nomad). Numerus passed into Old French as nombre (subsequently borrowed by German as nummer), and English acquired it via Anglo-Norman numbre. Derivatives of Latin numerus to have reached English include enumerate [17], numeral [16], numerate [20], numerical [17], and numerous [16]. => enumerate, numerous
number (n.)
c. 1300, "sum, aggregate of a collection," from Anglo-French noumbre, Old French nombre and directly from Latin numerus "a number, quantity," from PIE root *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot" (related to Greek nemein "to deal out;" see nemesis). Meaning "symbol or figure of arithmetic value" is from late 14c. Meaning "single (numbered) issue of a magazine" is from 1795. Meaning "dialing combination to reach a particular telephone receiver" is from 1879; hence wrong number (1886). The modern meaning "musical selection" (1885) is from vaudeville theater programs, where acts were marked by a number. Earlier numbers meant "Harmony; proportion calculated by number," and "Verses, poetry" [Johnson].
Number one "oneself" is from 1704 (mock-Italian form numero uno attested from 1973); the biblical Book of Numbers (c. 1400, Latin Numeri, Greek Arithmoi) so called because it begins with a census of the Israelites. Slang number one and number two for "urination" and "defecation" attested from 1902. Number cruncher is 1966, of machines; 1971, of persons. To get or have (someone's) number "have someone figured out" is attested from 1853. The numbers "illegal lottery" is from 1897, American English.
number (v.)
c. 1300, "to count," from Old French nombrer "to count, reckon," from nombre (n.) "number" (see number (n.)). Meaning "to assign a number to" is late 14c.; that of "to ascertain the number of" is from early 15c. Related: Numbered; numbering.
雙語例句
1. And a number of African countries, too, are slipping through the net.
并且一些非洲國家也被漏掉了。
來自柯林斯例句
2. There must be any number of people in my position.
一定有很多人處在我這種境況。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Accidents are still the number one cause of premature death for Americans.
交通事故仍然是造成美國人過早死亡的頭號因素。
來自柯林斯例句
4. They issue a fixed number of shares that trade publicly.