| 释义 |
numbern. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French nombre, numbre. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman nombre, noumbre, numbre, nounbre, nunbre, numere and Old French, Middle French nombre sum, total (early 12th cent. as numbre), grammatical number (13th cent.), a (large, small) quantity (14th cent.), conformity in verse to a regular measure (1549) < classical Latin numerus sum, total, numeral, number as indicating a part or position in a series, a (large, small) quantity, a (large or small) group or collection of persons or things, a class or category, number as an abstract concept, the fact of being numerous, numerical calculation, arithmetic, rhythm in words or music, grammatical number, metrical foot, (plural) metrical lines, musical strains, perhaps < a suffixed ablaut variant of the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek νόμος (see nomos n.). Compare Middle Dutch nomber , nommer , nommere (Dutch nummer , (archaic) nommer ), German Nummer (16th cent.), Norwegian nummer , Swedish nummer , Danish nummer . Compare numero n.1, numéro n.2 and also No. n.2With sense 13b compare Old French Nombres (13th cent.), Anglo-Norman and Old French Livre des nombres (13th cent.), reflecting post-classical Latin Numeri and Libri numerorum (both Vulgate) respectively; the book was so called because it relates the census of the twelve tribes of Israel; compare Numery n. With senses 8, 9, and 10, compare Webster's Dict. Eng. Usage (1989) 673/2 which notes that a number is usually used with a plural verb and the number is usually used with a singular verb. When the word is preceded by an adjective, the verb is more frequently given as plural. I. In senses relating to the result of enumeration, to quantity, etc. 1. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > result, sum > signal of the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > result, sum > precise α. c1300 All Saints (Laud) 3 in C. Horstmann (1887) 418 (MED) For þe grete noumbre þat of alle halewe is..euerech ne mai nouȝt at is feste ane day habbe. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 1397 As wel..Vor loue of þe panes as to wite þe noumbre of eche manne [v.rr. þe menne]. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 8252 (MED) So mani heþen þousinde, Þat þe noumbre y no can finde. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Eccles. i. 15 Withoute ende is the noumbre of foolis. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. 254 In mesure god made alle manere þynges, And sette it at a certeyne and at a syker noumbre. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 139 (MED) Þis noumbre of fishis..bitokeneþ þe noumbre of seintis. 1486 sig. eij The moore nombur than ywis, the gretter the beuy is. a1500 (?a1300) (Douce) (1890) 679 (MED) Whanne Cryst hadde made þouȝt [read þourȝ] hys myȝt Heuene ful of angelis bryȝt, The nomber þat þare was þanne Noman for soþ telle can. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 60 (MED) He hauys ordeyned..alle þinges yn euyn weight and certeyn nombre and ordre. 1529 T. More i. f. xviiv He sayth yt then shall the nomber of sore and syke beggers decreace. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 3030 in (1931) I. 289 The noumber of this gret armie. 1667 J. Milton iii. 706 What created mind can comprehend Thir number . View more context for this quotation 1709 G. Berkeley §61. 67 A Thing contains this or that Number of Inches. 1788 T. Jefferson Let. 4 Dec. in (1958) XIV. 331 This is emploiment for near 2000 seamen, and puts nearly that number of British out of employ. 1797 R. Southey xxiv. 439 The number of fools is infinite. a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in (1824) 415 Quite a new piece, the last of seven, for 'tis The custom now to represent that number. 1891 E. Peacock I. 114 The number of books was very large. 1913 22 Feb. 3/1 Taft beat Roosevelt in the state by nearly fifty thousand; the Republican candidate for governor beat the Progressive by more than that number. 1950 D. Cusack iii. i. 238 I'm sure some people have more than the number of cups they pay for. 1994 1 Aug. 14/1 Since 1979, the number of women going back to full-time jobs after their babies are born has tripled. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] 1591 W. Garrard & R. Hitchcock 224 So that helping your memorie with certain Tablei or Tariffas made of purpose to know the numbers of the souldiers that are to enter into ranke. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 4 Send discouerers forth, To know the numbers of our enemies. View more context for this quotation 1613 in J. R. N. Macphail (1920) III. 131 Wherby the noumbers of men of warre..is particularlie sett downe. a1719 J. Addison (1888) I. 493 There is but one gate for strangers to enter at, that it may be known what numbers of them are in the town. 1815 M. Elphinstone iii. iv. 398 Their numbers are not less than thirty thousand families. 1874 A. Trollope I. xvi. 129 The men may beat the women in numbers by ten to one. 1986 May 54/2 Greylag numbers were very low during March but pinkfeet more than made up for this with a count of 15,000 plus. 1996 30 Aug. 3/3 Numbers were low this year, and this was never more apparent than at the mainstage gigs. 2. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [noun] > figure c1300 St. Edmund Rich (Harl.) 226 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 500 (MED) He..arsmetrike radde in cours in Oxenford wel faste & his figurs drouȝ aldai & his numbre caste. c1300 St. Edmund Rich (Harl.) 228 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 500 (MED) Arsmetrike is a lore þat of figurs al is, & of drauȝtes as me draweþ in poudre, & in numbre iwis. c1392 18 (MED) Mak yit a narwere cercle..in which shal ben writen the nombres of degres. a1450 ( G. Chaucer i. §7. 7 Over the whiche degrees there ben noumbres of augrym that dividen thilke same degres fro 5 to 5. 1564–5 in J. Beveridge & G. Donaldson (1957) V. i. 545/2 The samyn be at lenth writtin and insert thairin and nocht be nummer and figuris. 1728 E. Chambers at Fraction Vulgar Fractions, called also Simple Fractions, are always express'd by two Numbers, the one wrote over the other, with a Line between them. 1788 S. Low v. iv. 63 The number on the door; why, that settles the matter at once,—there can't be two numbers alike, in the same street. 1836 C. Dickens (1837) ii. 5 A strange specimen of the human race..with a brass label and number round his neck. 1854 5 Figures thus have..a value depending upon the places they occupy in a number. 1864 J. Donaldson I. 214 The appeal to the Greek letters as numbers, is conclusive proof of the writer's habitual use of the Greek Scriptures. 1912 D. Lowrie iii. 30 I glanced at the number on the cell door. It was..34. 1948 47 The numbers representing the data are withdrawn from the tape to the table register. 1994 T. Clancy Prol. 17 He looked at the number on the LCD display. the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [noun] > summing or addition > result of > sum-total c1390 (?c1350) St. Augustine 88 in C. Horstmann (1878) 63 Of þe mesures of figures and musek And of alle þe noumbres ek..He vndersted. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 326v Þe secounde odde noumbre [L. numerus impar], þat is, þe nombre of fyue. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 419 Þat suld be of a numbre hale, and mani thusand to haue in tale. a1450 (1885) 465 (MED) Parfite noumbre it is none Off elleuen. a1500 in W. A. Pantin (1931) I. 17 (MED) There ys a Numbyr that ys called a Grose, and itt cont[aineth] xij doss[en]. 1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in i. f. cccxxxiiii It is a fayre lykenesse, a pees or one grayne of wheate, to a thousande shippes ful of corne charged. What nombre is betwene the one and thother. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid vii. f. 186 When two numbers multiplying them selues..produce an other: the number produced is called a plaine or superficiall number. 1602 W. Shakespeare v. i. 2 They say there is good luck in old numbers. 1608 D. Tuvill f. 46 Themselues alone will be thought the Numbers, that giue a substantiall existence to the being of them all. 1667 J. Milton viii. 114 Distance inexpressible By Numbers that have name. View more context for this quotation 1753 Suppl. App. (at cited word) The figurate Numbers of any order may be found without computing those of the preceding orders. 1820 P. B. Shelley i. 14 If you were to dream Of a particular number in the Lottery, You would not buy the ticket? 1859 B. Smith (ed. 6) 35 A Mixed Number is composed of a whole number and a fraction. 1935 35 342 The cetane number..is determined and expressed..as the percentage of cetane in a blend of cetane and alphamethylnaphthalene. 1981 P. Davies (1983) ii. 31 It has been known since the time of Pythagoras that there exist numbers that cannot be expressed as either a whole number or as a fraction. 1990 32 285 We shall therefore call an even number a Goldbach number if it can be written as the sum of two primes in at least one way. the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 328a/a Among þe science mathematicus, wise men schal most take heede of þe science of nombres. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. 234 (MED) He tauȝte..some to dyuyne and diuide, noumbres to kenne. a1450 ( G. Chaucer Prol. 3 I aperceyve wel by certeyne evydences thyn abilite to lerne sciences touching nombres and proporciouns. c1475 (Trin. Cambr.) (1927) 1974 (MED) Apuleyus and Boece..were the furst in latyne and in grew, That in to the craft on nombre euer drew. 1693 S. Pepys 22 Nov. The late project..has almost extinguished..at all places of public conversation in this town, especially among men of numbers, every other talk. 1711 R. Steele No. 174. ⁋5 None of all these Things could be done by him without the Exercise of his Skill in Numbers. 1791 J. Boswell anno 1776 II. 21 [Johnson:] We may instance the science of numbers, which all minds are equally capable of attaining. 1848 E. C. Gaskell I. viii. 128 I've gotten no head for numbers. 1872 H. W. Longfellow IV. 202 Thus he grew up,..Perfect in Grammar, and in Rhetoric nice; Science of Numbers, Geometric art, And lore of Stars, and Music knew by heart. 1922 1 Dec. 137/1 Miss Caldwell has published a book entitled ‘The Simplicity of Number’, a copy of which..can..be obtained from her by teachers. 1963 B. Pearson iv. 63 You'd best make sure of his reading and his number and see if he's good enough for this class. 1996 2 May ii. 16/4 To teach basic language and number. 1997 R. Coles i. iv. 35 Elaine had already told her teacher that she hoped one day to be a stockbroker, like her grandfather: ‘He is a whiz at numbers’—a remark she'd heard her grandmother make all the time. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [noun] > figure > groupings of figures > column of figures 1656 J. Brown (title) The description and use of the carpenters-rule: together with the use of the line of numbers (inscribed thereon) in arithmatick and geometry. And the application thereof to the measuring of all superficies and solids. 1667 W. Leybourn (title) The line of proportion or numbers, commonly called Gunters Line, made easie. By the which may be measured all manner of superficies and solids. 1706 (new ed.) Gunter's Line, the common Line of Numbers first invented by Mr. Edmund Gunter, and so well known that it needs no Description. 1728 E. Chambers at Gunter's Line Call'd also Line of Lines, and Line of Numbers. 1828 (ed. 20) 91 The diff. of long. 419 on the line of numbers. 1890 XXXIII. 350 Gunter's admirable rule of proportion, now called the line of numbers (‘Gunter's Line’ and ‘Gunter's Proportion’). society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > betting on lotteries > [noun] 1868 J. D. McCabe 514 A man might play three numbers every day for a year, and not have the satisfaction of seeing all three come out at one time on the drawing.] 1897 G. Ade 170 She tell Belle 'at she heah I like gin an' roll'e bones an' play numbehs. 1926 C. Van Vechten 286 Numbers, a gambling game highly popular in contemporary Harlem. The winning numbers each day are derived from the New York Clearing House bank exchanges and balances..published in the newspapers. 1965 Malcolm X 52 Betting my dollar a day on the numbers. 1975 29 Sept. 54/3 She had met Delgado while she was selling numbers on the streets of the lower East Side. 1992 D. Pinckney vi. 145 His part-time helper..lost vast sums..playing the numbers. the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > statistics 1964 11 Apr. 20 Such numbers show graphically how evenly playing time has been distributed. 1973 7 Apr. (Suppl.) c/2 There is an old saying that is particularly appropriate: ‘Numbers don't lie’. 1986 R. L. Chapman 298/1 He had 40 homers and a 325 average, the best numbers on the team. 1991 60/2 Nance let Klingler's numbers speak for themselves,..pointing out that Klingler's statistics were better than any other Heisman-winning quarterback. 1994 18 Mar. 8/5 According to the numbers, about 60,000 Philadelphians currently receiving welfare payments will have their payments reduced to the 70-cents-a-day level. 3. society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > mark of identification > [noun] > number the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [noun] > set > sequence > series > designating place in c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 105 (MED) His noumbre it is sex hundreþ & sexty & sex. c1384 (Royal) Apoc. xiii. 18 Heere is wisdom; he that hath vndirstonding, acounte the noumbre of the beest; sotheli the noumbre of man is, and his noumbre is sixe hundrid sixty and sixe. 1621 R. Montagu 293 Those men who propound..their priuate, probable and problematical opinions,..of the Number of the Beast. 1634 in B. Cusack (1998) 139 He sawe a nomber of lx persons gathered togeither. 1697 H. Wanley in (1915) 1 107 That a little strip of Parchment be pasted to each Tract, with its number written upon it. 1830 F. Marryat II. xix. 293 A strange sail, who had not..shewn her number. 1836 C. Dickens (1837) ii. 6 Would any body believe as an informer 'ud go about in a man's cab, not only takin' down his number, but ev'ry word he says into the bargain. 1898 G. B. Shaw Philanderer in iii. 135 Julia..What is Dr Paramore's number in Savile Row? Charteris. Seventy-nine. 1908 E. F. Benson i. 16 I saw one policeman trying to take my number. 1987 B. Moore xv. 97 You will say that you came for the VD clinic and you will be given a number. 1992 I. Banks xii. 286 ‘Did you know... In the Dewey Decimal System, glass-making comes under the code six six six?’ ‘Woo,’ Rory whistled. ‘Number of the beast! Spooky, eh?’ society > communication > telecommunication > telegraphy or telephony > telephony > [noun] > number 1879 8 Sept. 12/1 The person at No. 2 calls the attention of the attendant at the exchange by means of an electric bell. At the same moment a shutter on the switchboard falls and discloses the number of the applicant. 1884 (London & Globe Telephone Co.) 4 Take telephones from hooks and speak at once, giving number of subscriber wanted. 1911 W. J. Locke 324 She..took up the telephone and gave a number. 1965 Mrs. L. B. Johnson 3 June (1970) 283 I tried to reach him, or rather his wife, to no avail. The number didn't answer. 1973 ‘R. Lewis’ iv. 47 ‘Could it be the number of the hire-car he used?’..‘It's a Leeds number.’ 1991 R. Rendell (1992) xxii. 278 Only the answering machine replied when he dialled her number. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > standard of fineness of 1923 G. G. Denny i. 31 Yarn count—a number given to yarn indicating its fineness, based upon number of yards per pound, more correctly called ‘yarn number’. 1927 M. H. Avram 516 There are many systems by which the ‘number’, ‘size’, or ‘count’ of yarns is expressed. 1928 V. Hottenroth ix. 160 Before the silk is ready for sale or for treatment in the dye works, it must be sorted according to quality and number (that is, thickness of thread). 1931 D. L. Pellatt xi. 97 For 150-denier yarn..the number has risen from 18 to 21, 24, 27. 1969 W. von Bergen et al. (ed. 3) II. ii. xvi. 1133 Yarn number is defined as the linear density of a textile strand. 4. society > communication > printing > publishing > [adverb] > in serial form society > communication > book > series or set > [noun] > part of 1728 28 Mar. 104/2 The whole Work will make about ten Numbers, containing fifteen Sheets each Number, beautifully printed in 4+₀, Price 3s. 10. to be continued Monthly. 1742 H. Fielding I. ii. i. 135 He was the first Inventor of the Art which so long lay dormant, of publishing by Numbers, an Art now brought to such Perfection, that even Dictionaries are divided and exhibited piece-meal to the Public. View more context for this quotation 1795 65 540/1 A good-natured friend, who shewed me the last number of the Critical Review. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 290/1 He used to buy up all the old back numbers of the cheap periodicals. 1853 E. C. Gaskell i I consider it vulgar, and below the dignity of literature, to publish in numbers. 1884 Dec. 773 In our number for December 27th we shall give a series of articles on the Continental Literature of the Year. 1938 July 8/1 You'll recall that in the June number, he explained to us the fundamental tennis strokes. 1969 I. Berlin Introd. p. ix The first of the four essays in this book appeared in the mid-century number of the New York periodical Foreign Affairs. 1987 C. Tomalin vii. 84 He and Jackson issued their first number of a magazine they had persuaded Bernard Shaw to help them acquire. society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > poem or piece of poetry > [noun] > one of a collection of poems society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > a song > [noun] > one of a collection 1842 Feb. 167 We are under no small obligation to Longfellow for embodying so many cheering views of existence in such musical numbers. 1878 R. L. Stevenson 119 There was a number in the hawker's collection called Conscrits Français, which may rank among the most dissuasive war-lyrics on record. 1894 21 Feb. 3/1 There are only 28 numbers in the little book, but none of them is quite insignificant, while many contain really memorable lines and stanzas. the mind > language > naming > [noun] > one who is designated by a number 1859 F. A. Griffiths (1862) 196 The first seven numbers run up. c1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 14 Order any two numbers to draw it out. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > bedroom > other 1902 Nov. 717/1 The ordinary sojourner, at a strange hotel will..ask to be accommodated with a ‘bed’ that night; the bagman expresses his desire for a ‘number’. 5. society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > [noun] society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > opera > [noun] > part of opera 1865 tr. L. Spohr I. 72 I now expected that..all those ‘Numbers’ in which Titus has to sing, would be omitted. 1874 Sept. 787 The director of the music should..sacrifice even the most admirable musical numbers to the exigencies of the ceremonial. 1891 23 Sept. 1531 The names of the singers of all the solo numbers. 1900 E. E. Peake i. 2 After a rattling number by the band, a brief address by the Mayor, and another rattling number by the band, a neatly dressed, handsome man..advanced to the front of the platform. 1908 L. M. Montgomery xix. 214 Only one number on the programme failed to interest her. 1920 P. G. Wodehouse xi. 199 He's put over any amount of shows which would have flopped like dogs without him to stage the numbers. 1948 Feb. 25 The B.B.C. could start..by putting some kind of check on the manner and matter of their inane songs—‘numbers’ I think they call them. 1984 A. Copland & V. Perlis x. 261 The music is divided into ten ‘numbers’, with the spoken scenes taking away the necessity for recitative. 2001 May 218/2 Some of the first songs Dylan wrote himself—a handful of Guthrie-style ‘talking blues’ numbers and the poignant ballad ‘Song to Woody’. society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > [noun] > a performance > item in 1908 K. McGaffey ii. 30 I've got to roll my hoop and do a shopping number. 1939 J. B. Priestley 67 And now, friends, a new novelty act, the first time here, and I know it will be a socko number. 1958 B. Nichols 141 Those most precious of all items to the revue writer, the ‘front-cloth numbers’, which can be played without props or scenery. 1977 17 Oct. 40 I did a bag-lady number on one of the platforms here in the bus station last year, and I almost got arrested. They thought I was the real thing. 6. colloquial. A person or thing. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > [noun] > garment or article of 1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ I. iii. 22 The shop windows..had progressed..to straw hats, tennis shoes, and coloured Summer Numbers. 1935 Apr. 19/3 Deedee had swathed herself in an afternoon number and was happily emptying the last of my..perfume down her front. 1953 M. Steen viii. 211 Petula Wimbleby's solution turned out to be an exquisite but throat-high ‘little number’ redeemed by lumps of jade. 1992 28 Oct. 51/1 He'd actually buy her hot-to-trot underwear and little red Lycra numbers with plunging necklines. the world > people > person > [noun] the world > people > person > woman > [noun] 1919 5 70 Hot one, hot number, used as a term of disgust. ‘You're a hot one I must say.’ New Mexico. 1936 L. C. Douglas xvi. 343 She's an odd number... I rather fancy she wears a hair shirt herself. 1955 W. Gaddis ii. vii. 627 Have you seen a little blond number named Adeline? 1968 J. Sangster ii. 17 I make do with three [men]..my home number is just a nice guy who sells motor cars. 1973 55 58 Number, casual pick-up from a bar or the street. 1994 17 Feb. 18/2 They are bad numbers who brutally slaughtered a young woman and a young man in a robbery. society > occupation and work > position or job > [noun] society > occupation and work > duties > [noun] > piece of work or task 1928 G. Campbell xii. 226 It may appear that the men in the boats had a fairly ‘quiet’ number, after they had merely run the risk of being torpedoed. 1959 24 July 5/1 A navigator's yeoman who had the cushy number of rubbing out old minefields and putting in new ones. 1975 J. Wainwright 187 He silently congratulated himself. It was a soft number, sitting here. 2000 13 Mar. 11/1 The Caribbean posting is not a cushy number. the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > marijuana or cannabis > cigarette 1963 in E. L. Abel (at cited word) You smoke this number while I go and call John. 1965 W. King in Aug. 22 ‘Mac's copping me a number from hell for a nickel!’.. ‘Sweet Mac was supposed to cop me a bag three nights back... I'm waiting here tonight to get my bag of reefer.’ 1981 R. Carver Cathedral in C. M. Curtis (1990) 144 I passed her the number. She took it and inhaled and then passed it back to me. 1995 27 Apr. 22/7 After a few tokes of Aunt Mary, maths would be a bust with kids who think a number is something you roll. 1903 A. H. Lewis 205 That's a nice number to hand a man! 1938 June 26/1 There is the little number of wood or metal and canvas known as a ‘director's chair’. 1959 F. Astaire 275 I got my fill a few days later, however, when a lone putt-putt German raided our orchard home and dropped a few little numbers just a hundred yards away. 1987 June 67/3 A successful neo-classic touch is the use of wire wheels rather than the road bike's cast numbers, which probably also saves some useful weight. 1999 Feb. 53/2 This little number has the largest optical zoom available. II. Senses relating to the aggregate of things enumerated or collected together. 8. c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 49 (MED) Þai shulden resten hem..vntil þe noumbre be fulfild of her breþeren. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) viii. 32 (MED) The nombre of Angles which was lore..He thoghte to restore. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 9416 Þat þis oxspring war o þat tale Þat moght fulfill þe numbre hale..o þam þat fell. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 6 Þe noumbre of men þat God haþ ordeyned to blisse mut nedis be fillid. 1483 in (1889) I. 364 Suche persones as they thynkith lyable to fullfill the nombre of the xlviii. demi jurees. c1520 M. Nisbet (1905) III. Prol. to Acts 2 The novmer of the apostilis war fulfillit. 1569–70 in J. Stuart (1844) I. 367 Ane buik contening the haill numer of personis of thair delatioun. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 185 Here is two more cald then your number, you must haue but foure here sir. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iii. 332 Hell, her numbers full, Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. View more context for this quotation 1859 Ld. Tennyson Guinevere in 251 How sad it were for Arthur..To..miss the wonted number of my knights. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > regarded as a whole or a body of people gathered c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring (1891) 192 (MED) Þe praiseable numbre of prophetes herieþ þe. c1390 G. Chaucer 2710 I am nat of the nombre of right parfite men. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 23875 (MED) He has us in his numbur tald, Als his scepe of his aun fald. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 1 (MED) He..hase vochyd safe to cownte vs in þe nummer of hys sons. 1485 W. Caxton in Pref. sig. ij Admytted..in to the nombre of the ix beste & worthy, of whome was fyrst the noble Arthur. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 228 (MED) He was betin with roddis and aftir that put to the fotemen as oon of their numbur. a1538 A. Abell Roit or Quheill of Tyme f. 51, in at Noumer Sum puttis him nocht in nowmir of papis. ?a1562 G. Cavendish (1959) 51 The kyng..hauyng abought his person..beside the wonderfull nomber of nobyll men & gentilmen iijre great Gardes. 1611 2 Cor. x. 12 For we dare not make our selues of the number . View more context for this quotation c1626 H. Bisset (1920) I. 201 The lordis appovntis uthir foure of there numer to succeid..quhill the course cum about the [haill] numer. 1667 J. Milton v. 843 But more illustrious made, since he the Head One of our number thus reduc't becomes. View more context for this quotation 1754 Earl of Chatham (1804) iv. 25 Is gratitude in the number of a man's virtues? 1785 T. Jefferson Let. 1 Sept. in (1953) VIII. 460 The Emperior continues to give proofs of his desire..of receiving us into the number of his tributaries. 1852 W. E. Gladstone 25 They would..rank as enemies of order, and be added to the number of those who are the unfortunate subjects of the return. 1874 A. Trollope II. xxviii. 225 They would have a few friends with them, and Madame Goesler would be one of the number. 1917 E. Wharton xv. 234 She had seen too many village love-stories end in that way. Poor Rose Coles's miserable marriage was of the number. 1961 K. Tynan i. 137 The effect on the prison population of the knowledge that one of their number is about to be ritually strangled. 1986 J. Nagenda ii. iv. 68 Thomas didn't know whether or not Mike was of their number back in Dondo. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > [noun] > a kind, sort, or class > a kind of ?a1425 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius iv. pr. ii. 275 Nys nat yvel of the nombre of thinges that oughten ben desired. c1550 (1979) vi. 48 viij sortis of vyndis of the quhilk numir ther is iiij callit vyndis cardinal. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach i. f. 35 Columella countes it rather in the number of Fodder for cattell, then of Pulse for man. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac III. 103 I account not Amazons in the number of women, but of Monsters and Prodigies. 1690 W. Temple Ess. Anc. & Mod. Learning in (1720) I. 298 There are three, which I do not conceive well, how they can be brought into the Number of Sciences; which are, Chymistry, Philology, and Divinity. 1757 A. Cooper iii. lxiv. 261 Universally allowed to be a Mineral Production, of the Number of Bitumens. society > society and the community > social class > the common people > [noun] society > society and the community > social class > [noun] > distinction of class > level or grade > those belonging to 1542 Bp. S. Gardiner c1 July (1933) 356 I speake for the numbre, which they them selves will take for no reproche. 1578 J. Banister vii. f. 91v Casula..the barbarous number, by the addition of one letter pronounce it Capsula. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer ix. 118 Who liuing thus apart Proues vs but number: for his want, makes all our weaknesse seene. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. i. 76 By mingling them with vs, the honor'd Number . View more context for this quotation 1738 A. Pope 9 The Number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd. 9. With preceding adjective. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of people or animals > number assembled a1375 (c1350) (1867) 2300 A brem numbre of bestes. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 955 (MED) He..metes him in þe myd-fild with a mekill nounbre. a1500 (Trin. Cambr.) 37 (MED) Ther was A Erle..Which of children had A huge noumbre gret. 1533 T. More Pref. sig. Aa.vi There ys no small nomber of suche erronyouse englyshe bookes prented. ?a1562 G. Cavendish (1959) 26 Your..banquette, where was assembled such a number of excellent fair dames. 1638 F. Junius 28 Among such a number of rich and artificiall monuments. 1678 J. Phillips tr. J.-B. Tavernier Indian Trav. ii. xxiv. 202 in tr. J.-B. Tavernier The Java Lords,..drawing their poyson'd Daggers, cry'd a Mocca upon the English, killing a great number of them. 1719 D. Defoe 61 There arose an innumerable Number of Fowls of many Sorts. 1743 J. Morris vii. 191 There is a great number of other passages of scripture, in which they must be understood of children. 1788 J. Madison in lviii. 164 The difficulty..in engaging in the federal service, a large number of such characters as the people will probably elect. 1844 R. W. Emerson 2nd Ser. viii. 250 I might see a great number of rich, ignorant, book-read, conventional, proud men. 1897 F. Hall in 64 396/2 A good number of them were, doubtless, brought across the ocean by British immigrants. 1915 W. S. Maugham cvii. 561 Their clientele..consisted of..a large number of music-hall artistes. 1986 J. Huxley i. 17 A very small number of centimes were allotted to us each week as pocket money. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] c1400 (?c1380) (1920) 1283 Þe golde of þe gazafylace to swyþe gret noumbre. 1411 III. 650/1 The same Robert..dyd assemble greet noumbre of men armed and arrayed ageyn the pees. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 83 (MED) In bathe þir citez dwellez Cristen men..in grete noumer [Fr. grant fuisoun]. 1485 in J. Raine (1890) 43 Wt othre in grete nombre assembled ther. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1546) sig. B.ij There is greatte nombre of parcialities. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 5684 in (1931) I. 367 With small nummer of monkis and freris. 1558 in J. B. Paul (1913) X. 375 That thai with thair hors, cartis, sleddis and crelis in sic noumer. 1600 R. Kittowe sig. C His onely sonne, of whom..there should proceed..nations, multiplied in such number, as incomparabilitie shuld equal the innumerable starres. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. iii. 29 Belike you slew great number of his people. View more context for this quotation 1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay ii. i. sig. Q The people, called by a Cryer, came in great number thronging to the Iudgement seate. 1719 J. Barker (ed. 2) II. ii. i. 179 Thus was I, poor Maid, expos'd to..lewd Out-laws, who inhabit those Woods in great Number. a1822 P. B. Shelley (1832) xxxviii. 20 Rise, like lions after slumber, In unvanquishable number. 1869 J. S. Mill iii Women cannot be expected to devote themselves to the emancipation of women, until men in considerable number are prepared to join with them. 1906 J. H. Macdonald tr. L. Bianchi iii. xiii. 680 In the typical form [of mania]..neologisms and symbols are found in great number. 1993 Feb. 36/1 I went to the Napoleon Club in Boston's Beacon Hill and stared..at peacock men, gays I'd never seen in such number. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1216 The noble knyghtes of the cite cam a greate numbir. 1535 Gen. xxxiv. E I am but a small nombre: Yf they gather them selues now together against me, they shal slaye me. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. cxxx Therfore were bookes brought thether in a wonderfull numbre. 1589 T. Cooper 120 Which dealing..cannot be without great offence of an infinite nomber. 1611 Acts xi. 21 A great number beleeued, and turned vnto the Lord. View more context for this quotation 1693 in (1935) II. 485 A sert nwmber to..revise the cesse book impost. 1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger I. iv. vii. 164 A great Number think him an Orator. 1833 C. F. Crusé tr. Eusebius (ed. 2) iv. iii. 130 This work is also preserved by a great number. 1861 July 198/3 Only a small number will produce perfect flowers. 1895 Nov. 459 A considerable number are employed in..workshops. 1931 A. U. Dilley iv. 124 Except for a small number woven in medallion pattern upon a plain field, the Feraghans were produced in all-over design. 1961 2 Sept. 506/2 All strains of Staph. aureus were tested for sensitivity..and a small number were phage-typed. 1992 May 2/3 A considerable number could live independently in their own accommodation. 10. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > an assemblage or collection > [noun] > of a certain number c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds v. 36 A noumbre of men consentide, aboute foure hundrid. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. 395 (MED) He þat mede may lacche makeþ litel tale, Nyme he a numbre of nobles oþer of shullenges. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 309 In þe Chirche above in heven is a noumbre of greete seintis. 1535 Acts v. E There cleued vnto him a nombre of men, aboute a foure hundreth. c1540 (?a1400) 1147 Nestor, with a nombur of noble men all. 1580 W. Fulke Discov. Daungerous Rocke in 164 A number more of such principall heades of Christian learning. 1626 F. Bacon §567 Water-Lilly..hath a Root in the Ground; And so have a Number of other Herbs that grow in Ponds. c1650 J. Spalding (1850) I. 46 Ane company of Hielanderis..liftit..ane number of goodis. 1799 R. Southey (ed. 2) i. 8 A number of little forts are erected about the adjoining coast. 1807 G. Chalmers I. ii. vi. 282 The dates of both agree..in a number of their notices. 1860 S. Wilberforce (1874) 338 He..kept himself by keeping a number of bees. 1882 R. L. Stevenson I. 204 Though I have encountered a number of rogues in different quarters of the world, I never met with one so unblushing as yourself. 1923 R. Macaulay iv. vi. 270 He was quite intelligent about a number of things. 1960 C. Day Lewis ii. 39 I..sang a number of his songs, some with piano, the rest to the harp accompaniment of Sidonie Goossens. 1989 21 May 4/4 A number of steps were agreed to maintain the peace in the territory. 1566 B 10 f. 372 In this mean time there rose a nombre in the Court. 1593 R. Hooker i. i. 48 Much..may seeme to a number perhaps tedious, perhaps obscure. 1637 R. Baillie (1841) I. 6 A number lope to their friends for recommendations to court. 1770 88 Was that expression, we will do for the soldiers, uttered by a number or by a few? 1788 A. Hamilton in xv. 93 Regard to reputation has a less active influence, when the infamy of a bad action is to be divided among a number, than when it is to fall singly upon one. 1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin III. iii. 67 If a hunting party kills an animal, a number [of carrion-feeders] soon collect and patiently await,..on all sides. 1840 J. H. Newman x. 174 The testimony of a number is more cogent than the testimony of two or three. 1910 I. 917/1 A bomb was thrown, several policemen being killed and a number wounded. 1967 113 805/2 What preventive measures can we take? A number are suggested. 1990 Apr. 7/1 This is the first system of its kind to be installed outside the USA, where a number are already installed. 1583 G. Babington vi. 278 With a number such mockes and diuelish tauntes. 1583 G. Babington vi. 285 Vnto which and a number such other perswasions in the worde the prophane writers..haue agreed. 1598 N. Breton sig. A3 A number plagues the Lord did further threaten. 1663 B. Gerbier sig. g2v Nor is this present Age void of number of Authors, who have written more on Architecture. 1664 B. Gerbier (new ed.) i. sig. e6 Clovis..did Coat number of Flour-de-lis. the world > relative properties > quantity > [noun] 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 103 They..promised them grete nombre of money if they might come & obteyne their entent. 1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero iii. sig. S.1 An honest man hath..brought a great nombre of wheate in the derth tyme. 1540 in B. Cusack (1998) 113 One his clok lap scho vas deliuerand hyme mony scho kennis not ye nomor of ye miony. c1650 J. Spalding (1850) I. 347 The cordineris of both Abirdeins wes commandit..to give wp..the number of thair ledder, and to mak wp..thair portioun of 20,000 pair of schois. 1720 185 I have seen..one Man plowing with one Horse; which..saves a Number of Money. 12. In plural. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude society > faith > aspects of faith > Bible, Scripture > Testament > Old Testament > divisions of Old Testament > [noun] > Numbers 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 1104 He chargyt thaim with nowmeris mony ane Rycht weill beseyn in Scotland for to ryd. c1540 (?a1400) 11139 What fortherit the fight of þo fell maidyns, Syn the grekes on hom gedrit in so gret nowmbers? 1555 in (1973) IV. 595/1 The deir..ar slane in great nowmeris in all this pairtis. ?1573 L. Lloyd 21 Xerxes,..whose infinite numbers of Navies covered the Ocean seas. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus vi. 271 Here are infinite numbers of scorpions, but no flies at all. 1651 T. Hobbes ii. xxix. 166 It hath the resemblance of an unjust act; which disposeth great numbers of men..to rebell. 1690 J. Locke i. iii. 26 Tenets, which are firmly believed..and which great numbers are ready at any time to seal with their Blood. 1726 J. Swift II. iii. viii. 112 I had the Curiosity to enquire..by what Method great Numbers had procured to themselves high Titles of Honour. 1785 T. Jefferson vi. 108 (note) Great numbers of French, of English, and of Americans, are perfectly acquainted with these people. 1813 Duke of Wellington (1838) XI. 21 The French have lost immense numbers of men. 1847–9 IV. i. 2/2 The numbers in which these creatures abound baffles all expression. 1944 R. Matheson xii. 244 The pink and green potato aphid..frequently occurs in immense numbers. 1987 P. Auster (1988) 131 Dr. Woburn was among the first to call attention to the growing numbers of homeless people. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > a large number or multitude > of individuals, people 1597 R. Hooker v. lxviii. 185 Whereas none of them which were in the one could perish, numbers in the other are cast away. 1629 in P. H. Brown (1901) 2nd Ser. III. 66 Be beggarlie lymmaris of who lykeways nombers lyes between Leith and Edinburgh. 1667 J. Milton xi. 480 A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid Numbers of all diseas'd. View more context for this quotation 1709 J. Swift 7 They might..be raised to as high a Perfection as Numbers are capable of receiving. 1762 O. Goldsmith II. 44 There are numbers in this city who live by writing new books. 1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in I. 70 Able to speak..before numbers. 1861 F. Metcalfe (1867) 182 Numbers of fish kept rising at my grilse flies. 1866 S. Wilberforce (1874) 261 It was a time when sermons were read by numbers, and admired by multitudes. 1925 L. O'Flaherty (1989) 223 I know numbers of them. 1991 T. Marshall (1992) vii. 119 They are sought after by numbers of wolves. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] > greater number, majority 1638 T. Herbert (rev. ed.) 289 1000 Persians were slaine and 20000 Turks; but by their numbers the Persians were forced to leave the field. 1639 G. Daniel 67 My name preserve By force of Numbers, which revert the Lawes Of Destinie. 1645 J. Winthrop 7 The Narrowgansets and their confederates rest on their numbers, weapons, & opportunityes to do mischief. 1761 C. Churchill 16 Can numbers then change Nature's stated laws? Can numbers make the worse the better cause? 1776 H. H. Brackenridge 43 Our right wing push'd, our left surrounded, Weight of numbers five to one. 1861 F. Metcalfe (1867) 176 Coming to close quarters, they overpowered the foreigners by force of numbers. 1898 May 256 Their one idea was..hooking on with gangways, overpower them by force of numbers. 1910 I. 820/1 His troops were raw and possessed no decisive superiority in numbers. 1941 34 97/2 A series of heavy mass attacks, designed to crush the R.A.F. by sheer weight of numbers and to sweep the skies clear. 1992 90 The lucky ones..will remain here for the rest of their lives unless driven out by force of numbers. III. Senses relating to the action of enumerating. 13. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > counting people a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxv. 14 After þe noumbre [a1425 L.V. rekenyng; L. supputationem] of frutes, he shal sulle to þe. c1626 H. Bisset (1922) II. 105 Heir followes the..numer of all the monasteries..ministeries..nunries and cells withtin the kingdome. 1831 T. Buttrick 33 Two gentlemen undertook to take a number of these people, and found it to be about twelve hundred. c1425 (Queen's Oxf.) Num. Prol. 364 This book clepid Numeri, that is to seie, the book of Noumbre. a1450 (c1395) Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in (New Coll. Oxf.) (1850) 68 The book of Noumbre..wher he conteyne not the mysteries of al the hool crafte..and of the profecie of Balaam, and of the xlij dwellyngis in wildirnesse? 1502 tr. (de Worde) iv. xxi. sig. aa.i Ye auncyent testament in the .xxv. chapytre of nombres. 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Idolatry iii, in J. Griffiths (1859) ii. 175 As it is written in the book of Numbers, the twenty-third chapter, that there was no idol in Jacob. 1589 T. Cooper 127 In the Nombers, he that brake the Sabbath day, was stoned to death. 1649 F. Roberts (ed. 2) 52 Numbers,..so called because a great part of the Book, especially at the beginning, is spent in Numbring of the Tribes and Families of Israel. 1728 E. Chambers at Pentateuch The five books of Moses..; viz. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 1840 XVII. 426/2 The book of Deuteronomy supposes the previous composition of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. 1875 III. 638/1 The Levitico-Elohistic document, which embraces most of the laws in Leviticus with large parts of Exodus and Numbers. 1910 I. 716/2 The rod of Aaron, mentioned in Numbers xvii., was taken from an almond-tree. 1989 R. Alter iv. 118 We get a sense of restitution made in Joshua for the espionage fiasco of Numbers. 1996 16 Feb. 11/4 Setting Numbers against John..invites us to commit the second-century heresy of Marcionism. IV. Technical senses involving the application of numerical properties. †14. society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > rhythm > [noun] a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xxxii. 8 As in forgyng of gold signe is of a smaragd, so þe noumbre of musikis in myrie & temprat win. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 2364 Withowte tru nombre no man truly may singe. 1553 T. Wilson iii. f. 85v He maie appere to kepe an vniformitiee, and (as I might saie) a nomber in the vttering of his sentence. 1584 King James VI & I sig. Eij The harmony of nomber tone and song. a1629 W. Hinde (1641) iii. 11 Mixt dancing of men and women, with light and lascivious gestures and actions, framed in number and measure to please a wanton eye. 1667 J. Milton iv. 687 With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonic number joind. View more context for this quotation the world > relative properties > relationship > [noun] > proportion or ratio a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 205 (MED) He [sc. Pythagoras] gan to fynde noumbres by þe whiche sownes accordeþ, and so he spedde to make þe craft of musyk. c1400 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (Tiber.) f. 92 (MED) Whanne þes acordes wer yfounde, Picthagoras ȝaf ham names, & so þat a clepuþ in numbre double, a clepeþ in sounes dyapason, & þat a clepeþ in numbre oþer half, a clepeþ in sounes diapente. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 1669 Accordis which in musike be, with theire proporcions cawsen Armonye, Moch like proporcions be in Alchemye, As for the grete nombres actualle. 1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Oct. 27 Gloss. Plato and Pythagoras, held for opinion, that the mynd was made of a certaine harmonie and musicall nombers. the world > relative properties > number > geometry > shape or figure > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 328 Þe numbre lyneal begynneþ fro oon and is y-write arewe and lyne anon to endeles. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 328 Þe numbre superficial is y-write nought oonliche in lengþe but also in brede..a þrecornered nombre and foure cornered and fyue cornered and rounde. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [noun] > number a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 9v Eueriche is I-seide..of al þre at ones in þe singuler noumbre & nouȝt in plural. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. iv. 339 In kynde, in cas, and in numbre. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 72 (MED) Speche in þe plurel noumbre vndirstondun of oon persoon is nouȝwhere ellis usid in holy scripture. c1450 J. Capgrave (Arun. 396) (1893) i. 255 She hadde maystres..To teeche hir of retoryk and gramer..The cases, the novmbres, and such-maner gyse. c1450 in D. Thomson (1984) 17 Wyt qwat case wele þe comparatyf degre construe? Wyt ablatyf case of bothe nowmberis. 1523 J. Fitzherbert ix. f. 9 Where he sayth de molendinis, ye whiche is in the plurell nombre. 1591 R. Percyvall Gram. sig. B3 There are two numbers, the singular speaking of one, the plurall of moe. a1637 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. i. viii, in (1640) III Of Number, that word is termed to be, which signifieth a number singular, or plurall. 1680 in (1937) 36 459 Neutrall are the names of countries, cities, towns and villages..diminutives and words of number..and adjectives. 1738 Apr. 182/2 The Plural Number of ὕδωρ is often made use of where a large Quantity of Water is designed to be expressed. 1795 L. Murray 26 The singular number expresses but one object. 1872 R. Morris 93 The oldest English had the dual number only in the personal pronouns, which we no longer preserve. 1933 L. Bloomfield xvi. 272 Distinctions of number..are merged with the gender-classification. 1992 46 90 Non-native speakers of English..express horror and amazement at the discovery of ‘singular they’ which goes against all they have learned about number concord. 17. society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > poem or piece of poetry > [noun] > poems or poems collectively 1579 E. Spenser Oct. sig. L3 v The numbers rise so ful, & the verse groweth so big, that it seemeth he hath forgot the meanenesse of shepheards state and stile. 1598 W. Shakespeare iv. iii. 54 I feare these stubborne lines lacke power to moue... These numbers will I teare, and write in prose. View more context for this quotation 1629 W. Davenant Ded. My Numbers I do not shew unto the publick Eye, with an ambition to be quickly known. 1667 J. Milton iii. 38 Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move Harmonious numbers . View more context for this quotation 1711 A. Pope 21 Most by Numbers judge a Poet's Song, And smooth or rough, with such, is right or wrong. 1773 H. Chapone II. 167 Numbers and rhymes..being so easily learn'd by heart. 1808 L. Murray I. App. ii. iii. 457 Our translators of the Bible, have often been happy in suiting their numbers to the subject. 1849 T. B. Macaulay II. vii. 202 Men were in no humour to be charmed by the transparent style and melodious numbers of the apostate. 1915 W. S. Maugham cxviii. 624 Those fresh, strong girls whom old Herrick had praised in exquisite numbers. society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > phrase > group of phrases 1595 B. Barnes sig. Cv Why turne you not your numbers musicall To God aboue mans praise which ruleth all? a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Philaster v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher (1679) The god that sings His holy numbers [1620 Number] over marriage beds, Hath knit their noble hearts. 1671 J. Milton iv. 252 The secret power Of harmony in tones and numbers hit By voice or hand. View more context for this quotation 1693 M. Prior Lady of Quality's playing on Lute in 438 That with Your Numbers you our Zeal might raise. 1702 N. Rowe i. i. sig. C3v When some skilful Artist strikes the Strings, The magick numbers rouse our sleeping Passions. 1772 W. Jones 138 Now on the flute with equal grace he play'd, And his soft numbers died along the shade. 1810 W. Scott i. 3 Harp of the North! that..down the fitful breeze thy numbers flung. a1839 W. M. Praed (1864) II. 354 Pour again those holy numbers, Which thou warblest there alone. a1861 D. Gray Yellowhammer in (1874) 157 I'll sing to you in numbers high A summer song that shall not die. 1915 J. Rhoades 52 Not too harshly in your ears may sound The sigh-born numbers of an exile's song. a1945 J. C. Ransom Winter Remembered in (1963) 38 Your improbable tale Is recited in the classic numbers of the nightingale. society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > part of poem > [noun] > line > subdivision of line 1797 3 258 (note) Whatever exceeded two times (a short syllable being estimated as half a time) was termed not a foot but a number. V. Senses relating to number as an abstract property, faculty, or principle. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [noun] c1390 G. Chaucer B. 2846 The victorie of batailles..lith nat in greet nombre or multitude of peple. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1957) ii. vii. 109 By multitude and nowmyr apon ws set All ȝeid to wraik. 1612 F. Bacon (new ed.) 235 Walled Towns,..Masse of treasure, Number in Armies.., are all but a Sheep in a Lions skin, except the..disposition of the people be militarie. 1667 J. Milton v. 901 Nor number, nor example with him wrought To swerve from truth. View more context for this quotation 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid vii. f. 183 Nomber compaseth all thinges, and is..the being and very essence of all thinges. 1611 T. Heywood ii. sig. D2v Shall I sweet Lady, adde vnto your grace, And but for number-sake supply that place? 1623 P. Massinger i. iii. 334 This present iourney, (From whence it is all number to a cypher, I ner'e returne with honor). 1690 J. Locke ii. xvi. 100 Our Idea of Infinity..seems to be nothing but the Infinity of Number. 1776 S. Foote ii. 37 I..call'd him a citizen, in the London Gazette,..Pass'd a few necessary notes to get him number and value, white-wash'd him, and sent him home. a1782 Ld. Kames (1785) II. App. 518 A child..perceives a difference between many and few; and that difference it is taught to call number. 1866 Duke of Argyll ii. 75 These laws of number and proportion pervade all Nature. 1884 tr. H. Lotze 189 That other saying.., that God has ordered everything by measure and number. 1943 15 99 The use of such directly representational methods as bags of pebbles or tally sticks..which allow exact representation of number and accurate designation of the number of items already noted or counted. 1973 Apr. 103/3 Nonmathematical scholars tend to view with profound indifference the tortures that mathematicians suffer over such basic issues as the nature of number. 1991 C. Mansall i. 17/1 Music was thought to be the expression of number in terms of sound. the mind > mental capacity > psychology > faculty psychology > psychological study of the skull > [noun] > faculty of calculation 1815 J. G. Spurzheim viii. 441 All that which concerns unity and plurality—number—seems to belong to this faculty. 1835 2 218/1 The organ of calculation or number (as it is sometimes called) is marked 28. 1885 XVIII. 845/2 Number, on the external angular process of the frontal bone. 1988 N. Chomsky v. 167 Birds may have certain limited capacities to match arrays of not too many items, but that has nothing to do with the faculty of number. Phrases P1. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > impossible to number [phrase] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 8161 Folc of arabie, So muche þat þer nas non noumbre of hor compainye. c1330 (?a1300) (Auch.) (1973) 7297 (MED) Man and hous þai brent and bredden And her godes oway ledden, Wiþouten no [m] bre. c1390 G. Chaucer 2579 Ther of folweth another vengeance, peril, and werre, and othere damages with oute nombre. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. xx. 267 Ȝe [sc. friars] wexeth out of noumbre. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 449 (MED) Þis hathill man..sall..out of nounbre to neuyn of nacions wynn. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 5 He lediþ..to helle peple wiþ outun nowmbre. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine 366 b/1 The holy poure ladyes whiche [thou] hast drawen to penaunce without nombre. 1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero i. sig. D.4* Marathon, Salamyne, Plate,..& other out of nombre. 1611 Judges vii. 12 Their camels were without number, as the sand by the Sea side for multitude. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton iii. 346 A shout Loud as from numbers without number. View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil 547 The conquer'd Latians..Piles without number for their Dead prepare. 1739 D. Hume II. i. 63 The instances are here without number. 1751 S. Johnson No. 36. ⁋5 The sense of this universal pleasure has invited numbers without number to try their skill in pastoral performances. 1821 J. Bentham 92 Persons out of number are amusing themselves with rendering what, I hope, appears to themselves, at least, good service to the country. 1878 T. Hardy III. vi. iii. 288 The sun was sending up the valley the same long shadow of the housetop that he had seen lying there times out of number. 1892 92 147/1 Times without number the courts in bankruptcy have been called upon to decide the question. 1923 Apr. 400/1 Accidents and delays without number would occur. 1993 U. Chatterjee (1994) iv. 179 To bewail its attrition is the singularity in Shyamanand that his sons, times out of number, have smirked at. the world > relative properties > wholeness > the whole or all > that is all or the whole [phrase] > in all or altogether the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > [adverb] > in one assembly (of people or animals) a1375 (c1350) (1867) 2289 (MED) Kene men of armes, twenty hundered & tvo trewli in numbre. a1382 2 Kings ii. 15 Þanne risen & wentyn twelue bi nowmbre[a1425 L.V. in noumbre; L. numero] of benjamyn. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer (Hunterian) 5259 Tweyne of noumbre is bet than thre In every counsell and secre. a1450 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Caius 336/725) (1970) 30 (MED) Greuaunce of þe yȝe browis..in noumbre ben 15. c1480 (a1400) St. Barnabas 27 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 250 Dyscipilis..þat in nomir war lxx & twa. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 100 We schold not only have the pepul incresyd in nombur, but also [etc.]. 1573 T. Tusser (new ed.) f. 45 These toppingly gests, be in number but ten. 1615 G. Sandys 50 In number about thirtie or fortie thousand. c1634 in (1892) 6 60 [Sheep] nyne scoire and fyve in number. 1667 J. Milton vi. 49 Equal in number to that Godless crew. View more context for this quotation 1749 H. Fielding IV. ix. i. 95 Where the Beauties, more in Number, shine. View more context for this quotation 1776 P. Schuyler Let. 12 Oct. in J. Judd (1977) 89 This enables me to send you all the batteaux I have here, but they are only ten or eleven in number. c1790 W. Cowper (N.Y., Morgan Libr.) 1 Though the pleasures of London exceed In number the days of the year. 1869 R. H. Dana (rev. ed.) 435 San Francisco, with its..thousand-ton clipper ships, more in number than London or Liverpool sheltered that day. 1886 82 94/1 A mortgage of the stock of sheep, about 6500 in number, on an Australian run. 1920 Aug. 21/1 The motifs, four in number, are connected by lines of cording. 1992 Feb. 44/1 About fifty in number, these genes, clustered on chromosome 17 in mice..are known as the major histocompatibility locus. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > in order, sequence, or succession [phrase] > in numerical order a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) ix. 1060 (MED) Than onto Bochas cam the tuelue in noumbre, Callid Pope Iohn. c1480 (a1400) St. Matthias 3 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 222 Þe apostil sancte mathy, þat In nowmyr þe laste ves, In stad of þe tratour Iudas. 1562 N. Winȝet (1888) I. 2 Thre Questionis,..quhilkis ar in noumbre the xxxiii. xxxiiii. and xxxv. of The Four Score Thre Questionis. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) x. l. 180 Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff, Or de thar-for in nowmyr with the laiff. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) viii. 6708 That thai mycht In nowmyre of thai xxx feicht. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 341 (MED) Bartholanus..come þider wiþ his þre sones..and [they] encresede to þe noumbre of nyne þowsand men. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. 1102 (MED) Libra sit in the nombre of sevene. ?a1450 ( J. Lydgate (McClean) (1911) 60 Sche sente þe schorte somme of hir sentence..compendiously in þe Nombre of sixe lettirs. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1196 Many owchys, isette with stonys and perelys in golde, to the numbir of a thousande. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. (?1560) cii. sig. D*vv Al thys company were to the numbre of .xv. thousande knightes. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda i. vii. 18 b Where also then were in sight the number of twentie Moores skirmishing with their dartes. 1629 in P. H. Brown (1901) 2nd Ser. III. 51 Unleveyed..of the nomber of threttie sax. 1643 in (1880) 89 Every boat comming into the shore..sall exact thereof the number of one hundreth herings. 1699 G. Farquhar iii. 25 There was Mrs. Mary, Mrs. Margaret, Mrs. Lucy, Mrs. Susan, Mrs. Judy, and so forth; to the number of five and twenty, or thereabouts. 1720 D. Defoe 209 Stamford's Regiment was entirely cut in Pieces, and several others, to the Number of about 800 Men. 1775 P. Van Cortlandt Let. 13 Nov. in J. Judd (1977) 33 Tories from the eastward..to the number of two or three hundred. 1852 J. D. Canning 155 The candidates mounted the stump for display; While some Oberlin men, To the number of ten, Bethought it a matter for which they should pray. 1926 W. Lewis vii. v. 203 The groups..are to be counted to the number of four. 1986 B. Lopez vi. 231 There were..mock moons or paraselenae to the number of six. P3. to make up (the) numbers (also number). a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 262 The Enemy, marching along by them, By them shall make a fuller number vp . View more context for this quotation 1623 Bp. J. Hall 45 Like to some vnfaithfull Captaine that hath..filled his purse with dead paies, made vp the number of his companies with borrowed men. 1667 R. Allestree viii. 233 Though it hath too many voluntiers, yet sure 'tis this press that helps to make up its numbers. 1720 A. Pennecuik (ed. 2) ii. 155 A learn'd Clerk, five Tradesmen, and a Swain Call'd Colin, who dwelt in the neighbouring Plain, Made up the Number of Corisca's Train. 1754 S. Fielding & J. Collier i. ix. 159 Two girls and a boy made up the number of this little society. 1850 N. Kingsley 21 Apr. (1914) 119 They drifted once more and made up the number of 51 salmon. 1891 T. Hardy III. xliii. 59 Now you go and lie down there, and Izz and I will make up your number. 1989 C. Hitchens in I. Hamilton (1999) 529 He explains that he and his fellows are one short of a quorum for prayer. Will I make up the number? 2001 J. Robinson iv. 111 A person recruited temporarily..to make up the numbers in a gang. 1976 (Nexis) 21 Feb. 27 In some faculties standards would drop if less well qualified British students had to be accepted to make up numbers. 1985 L. Griffiths 98 The rest are just making up the numbers. 1996 Sept. 98/2 The White Dwarf is a really hard character and any followers you send with him are just there to make up the numbers. the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] > doomed to die the mind > will > necessity > fate or destiny as determining events > beyond human control [phrase] > be destined to an adverse fate 1804 C. Lamb Let. 13 Jan. in (1976) II. 130 Though this is a lottery to which none But G. Burnett would chuse to trust his all, there is no harm just to call in at Despair's office for a friend, and see if his number is come up. 1899 C. Rook iv. 56 You couldn't tallygraft to Billy no more. His number's up awright, wiv no error. 1915 ‘Bartimeus’ i. 11 I think our number's up, old thing. 1937 V. Bartlett xi. 188 The Director-General said that he would nevertheless like me to broadcast a short talk under my own name... My number was up. 1975 J. Aiken xviii. 331 He'd got leukaemia. He knew his number was up. 1989 G. E. Klyve & C. G. Oakley i. 33 Down and down the submarine sank. Danaë truly believed that her number, whichever one it was, was up, and waited tensely for the inrush of water. the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (intransitive)] > be killed the world > life > death > cause of death > cause death [verb (transitive)] 1807 in A. Paget (1896) II. 314 If we are going against Copenhagen many of us will lose the number of our mess. 1834 F. Marryat II. xiv. 240 I have an idea that some of us will lose the number of our mess. 1881 J. F. T. Keane 60 Fetching me one on the skull, that would have ‘settled the number of my mess’, but for the thickness of my too attractive head-dress. 1911 C. E. W. Bean xxx. 260 That meant a ride out to the blacks' camp and some of them losing the number of their mess. It did not matter who was shot. 1931 in H. M. Tomlinson 387 It's the like o' them nine inchers can lose ye the number of yer mess, just by the blast of its passing. society > communication > indication > signalling > make signals [verb (intransitive)] > (of a ship) communicate by signal society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > [verb (intransitive)] > obtain a good place on register society > leisure > social event > visit > visiting > visit [phrase] > make oneself known 1836 F. Marryat Pirate xvii, in 199 The Enterprise had made her number outside; but that she was becalmed. 1861 J. Lamont xviii. 293 We found that the ‘Anna Louise’ had only made her number twelve hours before us. 1880 14 Apr. 5/5 The good ship had a first-rate captain, a skilled crew, was well found and fitted, and she may ‘make her number’ yet. 1924 G. H. A. Willis 269 We went off to the Duke of Wellington to ‘make our number’ to the commodore's wife. 1927 B. M. Chambers xxx. 256 Almost every ship on her way to and from South America makes her number to the island [sc. Fernando Noronha]. 1945 ‘N. Shute’ ix. 211 Captain (D.) was there to see them off; I made my number with him as representing V.A.C.O. and we stood chatting for a time. 1958 M. Dickens xii. 192 Ben saw himself on Speech Day, making his number with mothers in garden-party hats. 1989 27 June 21/8 I was able to make my number at every port we visited. the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > appraise, estimate [verb (transitive)] > take the measure of 1853 C. Dickens lvii. 550 Whenever a person proclaims to you ‘In worldly matters I'm a child,’..that person is only a crying off from being held accountable, and..you have got that person's number, and it's Number One. 1889 ‘M. Twain’ xxxiv. 450 Let him go, for the present: I took his number, so to speak. 1908 9 Aug. s1/1 We have their number now..and they are due for a cleaning. 1920 W. Hard 190 To hurt Bolshevism you need at least to get its number. 1970 G. Jackson Let. 29 May in (1971) 265 Big Brother. He is rather transparent. I have his number. 1990 30 Jan. 19 She soon got the number of the football authorities... They were..forever telling her why something could not be done. the mind > will > necessity > fate or destiny as determining events > must as decreed by fate [verb (intransitive)] > be destined for a person (of bullet) the mind > will > necessity > fate or destiny as determining events > beyond human control [phrase] > be destined to an adverse fate 1917 A. G. Empey 312 He knows that it is only a matter of minutes before a German shell with his name and number on it will be knocking at his door. 1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons 163 Name (or number) on, to have one's, said of a bullet that hit a man; i.e., that it was destined for him. 1965 J. Brophy & E. Partridge 154 Number On, a fatalistic but consolatory superstition insisted that no man need fear any bullet or shell, however close it came, unless it had his regimental number (or his name and number) engraved on it. 1974 ‘C. Fremlin’ 15 I'm as safe here as..any where..if it's got your number on it, you'll get it, no matter where you are! 1992 July 96/3 Somewhere out there is a rocker-recliner with your number on it. P9. c1918 J. F. Trounstine (song) 3 Give me a kiss by the numbers, I want to do things in a military way. 1921 Nov. 3/1 By the numbers, men, refill the glass on 4. 1946 21 251 In training certain fundamental operations, such as putting on a gas mask, are taught by the numbers—at the count of one, the carrier is unfastened, at the count of two the mask is removed... To do anything ‘by the numbers’ is to do it in a practiced, routine, semi-automatic manner. 1994 S. Matheson ix. 173 I'm not a ‘by the numbers’ pilot—I'm a ‘by the seat of the pants’ pilot. 1941 34 73/2 Once we progressed beyond the ‘about turn by numbers’ stage and ventured forth into the field, things began to move. a1944 N. Coward in B. Day (1998) 217/2 Let's fly away To where we don't do things by numbers Where no ‘Reveille’ wrecks our slumbers. 1987 D. Coulby & T. Booth 88 Classroom Assistant (Infants)... 9.30: Helped T with house picture (drawing by numbers). 9.45: Help A with colouring of shapes. 1990 T. Brighouse & B. Moon 106 The last thing we want is teaching by numbers, reducing learning to a series of mechanistic measured units. 1995 7 Nov. ii. 14/2 A rare moment of tender loving design amidst a sea of cynical design-by-numbers clothes. 2001 Jan. 96/4 Ferry Corsten has kept his head below the parapet... This, however, is enormo trance-by-numbers. a1936 R. Kipling (1937) iv. 86 He produced a bottle of real Tokay, which I tasted, and lost my number badly by saying that it reminded me of some medicinal wine. P11. 1968 H. Lit 12 Do a number, to get mad; make a scene; to tell somebody off; blow your cool. 1972 24 Sept. 93 There were about four or five cats doing a number on (beating hell out of) a Puerto Rican. 1974 Nov. 19 I was on my own among male relatives, male bosses, male lovers who were all, at one time or another, doing numbers on me. 1982 S. Bellow iv. 63 They did a number on Ridpath. They printed damaging statements. 1991 N. Baker vii. 118 When Ada finally did arrive, Updike did such a number on it in his review that he felt compelled to explain..that he writes faster than he reads. 2002 (Electronic ed.) 6 Dec. Navigating bumpy dirt tracks and completing hairpin turns often does a number on shocks, tires, belts and other parts. 1968 R. Gover 20 Soon's somebody say boo at 'em [sc. the police], gonna be doin they main number [i.e. shooting at people]. 1970 J. Didion ix. 42 We've been through this... We've done this number about fifty times. 1980 R. Rhodes i. ii. 41 She did the garden-club number and the social number and she wasn't interested in his work. 1991 F. Cooper 124 We had this godawful evening... We did this whole fury number: I was pissed as a fart..and I just threw the lot at her. 1971 6 June 95/1 To do a number: To affect someone, with the implication that it's in some devious manner. 1983 E. L. Sturz 9 He's running a number on us! 1992 N. Cohn 77 The numbers we did. The scams we pulled. 1995 5 Mar. 17 Mr Palliser, who has already double-crossed the mystery genre, is now seen to be pulling a number on narrative and interpretation in general. 1970 (Univ. S. Dakota) 4 iii.–iv. 17 Don't do your number, to desist; (command).] 1978 C. James in 11 June 23/2 I watched a computerised gantry-mill do its complex number with very few human beings present. 1985 11 Nov. 86/2 Lawyers have a vaudeville turn of phrase; they talk about going into court and ‘doing their number’. 1991 14 Feb. 23/1 Then I went to Australia, got off the plane desperately ill and found that the gall bladder had done its number. Compounds C1. With first element in singular form. a. General attributive. (a) (In sense 1a.) 1924 R. M. Ogden tr. K. Koffka v. 334 Many peoples use other number-words [Ger. Zahlwörter] in counting than the ones they use in naming sums. 1937 A. Smeaton tr. R. Carnap v. lxxvii. 297 ‘Moon’ is a thing-word..; ‘five’ is not a thing-word, but a number-word. 1991 Aug. 93/3 Such mathematical ideas are set out here in six chapters. They open with number words and symbols. 1911 S. S. Colvin iii. 51 Much of it might function equally well for the reading habit, or the number-work habit. 1962 15 Mar. 469/2 Earlier attempts to teach ‘number work’ are premature and cannot lead beyond the learning of meaningless rules. 1984 V. Day in 19 Apr. 37/1 They are becoming used increasingly..for teaching the first and most basic subjects (numberwork, letter recognition, etc.). (b) (In sense 2.) 1897 B. Russell in 6 328 The graduated infinite series of fractions, called the number continuum, has meaning only when applied to a matter divisible ad lib. 1941 38 520 Points may be derived either by some method of abstraction.., or recourse may be had to the number-continuum. 1988 53 922/2 The scale could be interpreted either as a 201-point extended rating scale or as a number continuum. 1890 W. James II. xxviii. 653 Little by little in our minds the number-series is formed. 1953 A. Madwed 320 (title) Numerical analysis by the number series transformation method. 1985 112 667 The population of terminal branches increases in the course of time following the Fibonacci number series. 1924 R. M. Ogden tr. K. Koffka v. 332 Max Wertheimer has investigated the kind of ideas employed by men who do not possess our developed number-system, in tasks where we would use numbers. 1941 G. Birkhoff & S. MacLane i. 9 The integers have one further important property, not characteristically algebraic and not shared by other number systems. This is the well-ordering principle. 1991 Aug. 109/1 The Yuki of California felt that their own number system arose from the nature of the human hand. (c) (In sense 4a.) 1869 E. Edwards 333 To book-hawking, and especially to the sale of number-books, it [sc. the war] gave an enormous impulse. 1960 G. A. Glaister 278 Number books, books published serially... Each part consisted of two or more sheets stitched together within blue-paper covers. 1963 44 149 But the kind of serialisation..(often called ‘number books’ or ‘subscription books’) was really the issue and sale of a book in separate fascicules..so that the purchaser could..collect the entire work and have it..bound if he so wished. 1827 E. Mackenzie II. 729 Mr. M. Brown carried on the number business with great spirit. 1919 M. Beer I. ii. ii. 108 He was successively a number-carrier, street bookseller, and editor of a democratic periodical. 1864 11 Apr. Messrs. J. & J. Forsyth..beg to inform Dealers, Canvassers, and all others connected with the ‘Number Trade’, that they [etc.]. b. the world > matter > chemistry > atomic chemistry > [adjective] > relating to molecules > average 1935 39 165 For heterogeneous materials, different methods for determining molecular weights give different ‘average’ values. Thus, it may be shown that freezing point, osmotic pressure, and end-group methods, when applied properly to an ideal mixture, result in an average value defined by the expression Mn = 1/Σ (fi/Mi) where fi is the fractional weight of the constituent of molecular weight Mi in the mixture, and the summation is to be applied to all constituents present. This average may be designated as a ‘number-average molecular weight’. 1955 17 263 Number average degrees of polymerization are used to calculate the rates of initiation and transfer in vinyl polymerizations, and the extent of reaction in polycondensations. 1991 16 115 The number-average molecular weight (Mn) increases in direct proportion to monomer conversion. society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [noun] > placarding, postering, or billing > noticeboard > types of 1857 W. Arthur 182 Close by the number board, he placed another board laden with penny pieces. 1938 G. H. Sewell v. 54 That [sc. numbering each shot] is done by exposing before each shot a Number Board. 1993 23 Aug. ii. 4/4 I found myself transported back to the Hippodromes of my youth with their illuminated number-boards, their bedizened chorines. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > equipment > [noun] > cloths 1924 E. Wallace vi. 131 Catskin was the one horse..that Educated Evans would have recognized without colours and number-cloth. 1975 D. Francis i. 5 People..carrying out saddles and number cloths for the next steeplechase. 1959 H. Hobson xiv. 92 The phone..has been giving the number-engaged signal for over half an hour. the mind > mental capacity > psychology > mental image > [noun] > imagery of numbers 1881 F. Galton in 1 June 729 The lowest order of phenomena that admit of being classed as visions, are the ‘Number forms’ to which I have drawn attention on more than one occasion. 1936 6 60 The main object of the investigation..was to find if the presence of number forms is correlated to any significant degree with arithmetical ability. 1963 28 Mar. 547/1 Some people, whenever they think about numbers, picture them in a spatial arrangement... The experiences are called number forms. 1928 10 Nov. 1/2 He and Smith had been partners in the conduct of a lottery known as the ‘number game’. 1930 98 438 The court below committed no error in holding that the ‘number game’..constituted an illegal lottery. 1944 2nd Ser. 50 121 In a prosecution for operating a ‘number game’ as a game of chance for money in violation of ordinance, there must be proof that a number game is such a game or scheme of chance or gambling in absence of statute or ordinance recognizing the number game as being in such classification. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical instruments > [noun] > arithmetical instrument 1964 E. J. Swenson v. 99/1 When number lines are introduced to children, they should come in as a representation of a problem situation. 1968 P. J. Murphy & A. F. Kempf ii. 36 Since addition and subtraction are inverse operations, we expect subtraction to be associated with moving to the left on a number line. 1992 M. Field & M. Golubitsky v. 130 The real number line may be viewed as the horizontal x-axis in the complex plane. 1813 in (1905) 28 Jan. 66/2 Those subscribers..who choose to be accommodated with the Apocrypha may now be supplied by giving orders to the..Number-men. 1866 J. Blackwood Let. 21 Dec. in ‘G. Eliot’ (1956) IV. 321 The ‘Number Men’, i.e. men who sell the weekly and monthly publications in large numbers. 1932 23 Nov. 11/3 The number man whose initials are J. K. is due for a big pull-in soon unless he stops putting his clients' dough in his pockets. 1950 H. E. Goldin 146 Number-man, anyone engaged in the policy numbers racket. 1947 A. Einstein x. 117 Even a musician so retrospective as Louis Spohr could not help abandoning the number-opera towards the end of his career. 1958 24 July 141/3 ‘Die Zaubergeige’, for example, is a ‘number opera’ whose folkish tunes stem from popular Bavarian art. 1998 23 Aug. ar27/4 ‘The Rake's Progress’ is a sincere homage to the 18th-century ‘number opera’, in which the music unfolds in a numbered series of arias, ensembles and choruses. society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > labelling > [noun] > label, tag, or ticket > number plate society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > number plate 1869 Mar. 170/2 The white porcelain number-plates upon the doors. 1901 Apr. 74/1 We greatly fear that the number-plate is coming. 1973 P. Evans viii. 67 He..scooped up a handful of dirt from the roadside and rubbed it on to the rear number-plate until it became nearly illegible. 1988 4/2 The combined cost of delivery and number plates has ranged from nothing..to over £300. 1988 (Nexis) 4 Apr. 3 Number portability will allow users to choose any exchange for their 800 numbers or retain the ones they have, regardless of the carrier they choose for service. 1999 (Electronic ed.) 14 Dec. The introduction of number portability, where customers can keep their old number even if they change networks, has made it easier to swap to the most cost-effective network. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > betting on lotteries > [noun] > organizers 1933 10 Apr. 16/2 The Tax Commissioner of the county..has a hand in the prosecution of number runners. 1966 G. Parks xx. 213 I got to know number runners and their hangouts. 1994 P. Baker vi. 74 The number runners, shylocks, pimps, and petty hustlers sought protection from the gangs. 1892 5 299 He repeats..much the same process he used in devising four; that is, places an I before the last number-sign (X, or ten) to indicate one less than, next to, or before it; that is, nine. 1951 1 Sept. 14/5 I add the number sign (#) as a special eye-catcher. 1998 D. Bellos et al. tr. G. Ifrah xix. 240/1 In serto, however, as in Nestorian, letters have been used (and still are used) as number signs. 2004 Apr. 14/3 If you send an e-mail using mime and your recipient doesn't use mime, the message may become garbled, turning number signs, quotes and other symbols into gobbledygook. 1930 (B.S.I.) 47/1 Number-unobtainable tone. 1969 ‘D. Rutherford’ viii. 148 He listened..to the high whine of the ‘number unobtainable’ signal, knowing that she had left the receiver off. 1984 J. Dunlop & D. G. Smith x. 320 Note that if an unallowed number is dialled, or service to the number dialled has been discontinued, number-unobtainable tone is returned to the caller. C2. With first element in plural form (chiefly in sense 2e). a. 1934 25 Aug. 1/2 Hawkins..identified himself as a ‘pay-off man’ in the ‘numbers business’. 1934 23 Mar. 10/6 The numbers or lottery racket which had its headquarters in Passaic brought its operators $10,000 a week. 1959 28 May 924/2 I wonder how many people now remember that prominent feature of American life in the 'thirties—the numbers racket. 1985 J. Kelman (1987) 131 Got to give your bets to the fucking barber! Numbers racket, said John. 1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe xii. 226 The professions of..numbers racketeer, day laborer, pimp, stevedore. 1999 26 Sept. 116/5 That sentiment would have been warmly endorsed by the two men whom King killed in his days as a numbers racketeer. b. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > betting on lotteries > [noun] 1968 P. Oliver iv. 134 The policy writers and numbers runners who took the bet by a rapid code of signals in the street or at the ‘numbers drop’ would urge them to play other numbers and at higher stakes. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > betting on lotteries > [noun] 1935 21 Jan. 45/1 In Danville, Va., operators of a ‘numbers’ game were bankrupt. 1961 11 Nov. 365-7 Squabbles over election procedures, the complicated numbers game that East and West played. 1971 A. Hailey xiv. 205 Playing the numbers game—especially in auto plants—is, to Detroiters, as natural as breathing. 1999 F. McCourt l. 443 Her boyfriend, Louis Weber..was famous for running the numbers game in the neighbourhood. 1963 O. Harrington in Fall 519 Nobody covers as much Harlem territory as the numbers man. 1985 T. Ferguson vii. 187 He blackmailed and hijacked and extorted. For years, the police had considered him to be a minor pimp and a numbers man. 1987 R. Hall (1989) xiii. 161 Numbers-men from all thirteen parties went mum, eyes darting frantic signals to their minorities to cool it for fear of losing their seats. 1998 C. Barker i. 5 Jefferson the great rationalist, the numbers man, obliged to believe the evidence of his own eyes. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > betting > betting on lotteries > [noun] > organizers 1952 R. Ellison xxiii. 367 And yet, I thought, watching a numbers runner paying off a bet, this is one place that the Brotherhood definitely penetrated. 1979 E. Hardwick iv. 52 Judith has been accused more times than a numbers runner. 2000 3 Apr. 21/1 Jewel-encrusted pinkie rings, once limited to numbers runners and Rat Packers, have been glistening lately on the fashionable fingers of Jennifer Lopez and Lil'Kim. C3. the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [noun] > a series or succession > a place in a series > number assigning the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [noun] > set > sequence > series > designating place in > symbol a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. 1186 Of Signes in the nombre ellevene Aquarius hath take his place.] 1691 R. Ames 3 Has any one been here to ask Number Four? 1707 J. Mortimer (1721) I. 162 Sometimes the best Madder is worth eight or nine Pounds a hundred, and the Number O six Pound Ten Shillings. 1710 J. Swift 15 Sept. (1948) I. 19 I forgot to mark my two former letters; but I remember this is Number 3. 1837 C. Dickens xxv. 266 I should just like to ask you,..vether you don't con-sider yourself as nice and vell-behaved a young gen'lm'n as ever used..the number four collection? 1867 F. E. Trollope III. 5 It is hard to say..why this especial house should have been Number Nine at all, seeing there were to be but six houses in the row. 1895 W. Carleton 9 Genevieve, how oft it comes to me—That rather young old reading-class, in District Number Three! 1938 S. Beckett v. 95 A staple recreation..had been to wait at Walham Green for a nice number eleven [bus] and take it through the evening rush to Liverpool Street and back. 1977 June 50/2 The beefy Bruce Groves was one of the surprise successes of the season, batting at number three. 1988 Feb. 20/1 All my painting is done with number 3 or 4 sable brushes. 1871 ‘L. Carroll’ i. 4 I'm going to tell you all your faults. Number one: you squeaked twice when Dinah was washing your face this morning... Number two: you pulled Snowdrop away by the tail. 1984 J. Didion (1985) v. 86 Don't ask, number one, how Wendell Omura happens to be on Janet's lanai. 1997 ‘Q’ 385 That is real dangerous, because number one, they can build up the children's confidence over time, groom them, number two, the child will never suspect they are in danger. 1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons 211 At an inspection, for instance, an officer would tell a man, whose hair seemed too long, to ‘Get a Number One before next Parade’. 1982 N. Knight 20 The hairstyle would be a number two or three crop with feathered fringes all round. 1991 A. Beevor (rev. ed.) Gloss. 504 Number three haircut, standard haircut, as opposed to a Number one, which is shearing ‘right down to the wood’. d. society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > metal in specific state or form > [noun] > wire > types of society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position 1952 R. K. Stent iii. 30 Originally a centre three-quarter, Pickard went into the scrum (as a number eight). 1960 E. S. Higham & W. J. Higham 154 The Number 8 (back row loose forward)..combines, as far as possible, the duties of second row in the scrum and the flanks outside the scrum. 1973 P. Wilson 27 Then eventually we made barbs for our harpoons, by cutting a length of Number Eight wire from some farm fence. 1992 B. Anderson 33 Squatting on his heels he coiled it and held it up. ‘It's only a bit of old number eight.’ the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > [noun] > a medicine or medicament > officinal medicine the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > cleansing or expelling medicines > [noun] > purgative > pill 1916 110 And should my health appear to fail And appetite grow fine, My doctor hands me—not a bill, But just a Number 9. 1935 G. Blake xi. 339 If that wound's not healed by to-morrow it's M. and D. for you. And a Number Nine. 1946 J. Irving 123 Number-nine Boatswain, the Warrant Wardmaster. As ‘King of the Sick Berth Staff’ this allusion to the No. 9 pill is not inappropriate. the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective] > very society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > official residence > [noun] > specific 1953 in E. Partridge (ed. 6) Suppl. 1201/1 The various degrees in the state of a soldier's feelings in Korea are seldom expressed in the well-worn favourites of World War II. He is rarely ‘browned off’... No sir. He's just ‘number one’ to ‘number ten’. 1958 L. Durrell iv. 86 Even in the rain there was the usual little cluster of tourists and loungers outside the gates of Number Ten. 1991 7 Dec. 38/1 The impression from Number Ten is that Mr Major had expected that a tough British position would produce..concessions. 1995 G. L. Steinbrook 71 You cheap Charlie, number 10 GI, number 10,000 GI. 1977 7 Aug. (Potomac section) 25/1 If you hope to go to college next year, you will have to give up a Saturday morning, take a number two pencil and, with the eraser end, break the seal on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. 1999 10 Aug. 125/1 Everybody has access to a number two pencil, not everyone will be able to use a computer. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). numberv. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Partly a borrowing from French. Etymons: number n.; French nombrer. Etymology: Partly < number n., and partly < Anglo-Norman nombrer, noumbrer, nounbrer, numbrer, etc., and Middle French nombrer (early 12th cent. in Old French in sense 1a as numbrer ; 1314 in sense ‘to enumerate’; a1525 in sense ‘to calculate’; French nombrer ) < classical Latin numerāre numerate v. 1. α. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 1399 (MED) He bigan..to noumbri eche man. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. 1769 (MED) It mihte noght be nombred, The folk which after was encombred Thurgh him. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 121v Tyme is noumbre and tale, noumbringe and tellinge, in alle þingis þat beþ I-noumbrid and I-toolde. ?a1425 Constit. Masonry (Royal 17 A.i) l. 571 in J. O. Halliwell (1844) 33 Astronomy nombreth..Arsmetyk scheweth won thyng that ys another. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 888 Sir Galahad..saw so muche people in the stretys that he myght nat numbir hem. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) 19338 Thousandis mo than I kan nowmbre. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 53 Nane coud nombre the grete multitude of peple, yat deid. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxi. 17 Þai noumbird..all my banes. 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. UUUiiv I was extended and drawen on the crosse so violently, that all the ioyntes and partes of my body myght haue ben nombred. 1629 in J. D. Marwick (1878) III. 284 That the magistrattis trye the lenth of the hesp and caus nomber the threids thairof. 1651 T. Hobbes iii. xlii. 290 The Principall Person of the Assembly, whose office was to number the Votes. 1671 J. Milton iii. 409 When thou stood'st up his Tempter to the pride Of numbring Israel. View more context for this quotation 1709 R. Steele & J. Addison No. 81. ⁋2 Prodigious Multitudes of People, which no Man could number. 1787 T. Jefferson viii. 209 The census..the whole inhabitants having been sometimes numbered, and sometimes the tythes only. 1820 P. B. Shelley iv. i. 144 Like a flock of sheep They pass before his eye, are numbered, and roll on. a1862 H. T. Buckle (1872) I. 527 Mussulmans consider every attempt to number the people as a mark of great impiety. 1936 G. Greene in 14 Aug. 270/2 Serious films of the kind..could be numbered on the fingers of one hand. 1992 G. Hancock iv. xii. 285 Sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. the world > relative properties > number > mathematics > calculate or solve [verb (transitive)] the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxiii. 15 Ȝe sholen noumbre..fro þat oth.er day of þe woke..seuene wokys. ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 81 To Nowmyr, Calculare..Computare. a1513 J. Irland (1926) I. 98 To Daniel was reuelit the tyme and he nowmerit per ebdomadas. 1530 J. Palsgrave 644/2 I nombre, as an astronomer doth his thing by aulgorisme, je calcule. 1530 J. Palsgrave 644/2 Have you nombred the distaunce bytwene the sonne and the moone? 1579 L. Digges & T. Digges 1 To number anye summe nothing else it is, but to declare the value of everie Figure placed. c1600 (?c1395) (Trin. Cambr. R.3.15) (1873) 178 Merkes of marchauntes y-medled bytwene, Mo þan twenty and two twyes y-noumbred. 1609 J. Skene tr. i. f. 36 Quhen he is fourtene ȝeares compleit or quhen he can number and tell silver. 1669 S. Sturmy iv. viii. 218 The half of the deg. and min. thus numbred together, will be the Elevation of the Pole. 1794 T. Taylor tr. Pausanias III. 7 I was desirous of accurately numbering the interval of time from one Daedal festival to another. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Psalms lxxxix. 11 Who knew the power of thin ire; and durste noumbre [L. dinumerare] thin ire for thi drede? c1450 J. Lydgate Ballade Our Lady (Sloane) 100 in (1911) i. 258 (MED) Gabriell With joie the grette þat may not be noumbrid. c1460 Abraham & Isaac in N. Davis (1970) 40 (MED) Go and novmbre þe gravel in þe see. 1535 Gen. xli. F He left of nombrynge of it [sc. corn], for it coude not be nombred. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 17 Scribes, Bards, Poets, cannot Thinke speake, cast, write, sing, number: hoo, His loue to Anthony. View more context for this quotation 2. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > fewness > make few [verb (transitive)] c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring (1891) cxlvi. 4 (MED) Our Lord..noumbreþ þe multitude of sterres. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. v. 26 God hath noumbride thi rewme, and fulfilled it. c1390 G. Chaucer I. 218 God hath creat..no thyng with outen ordre, but alle thynges ben ordeyned and nombred. c1425 (c1400) (Cambr.) (1895) 64 (MED) Þou hast noumbrid my steppis; but, lord, spare þou my synnes! a1450 ( in J. Kail (1904) 5 (MED) Alle thyng is nombred in goddis sight, The leste tryp that euere ȝe trede. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 31 (MED) It is..vayne..to stryue with Him which noumbrith the sterres. 1584 R. Scot v. v. 99 Man..hath his daies numbred. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iv. 26 The Sands are numbred, that makes vp my Life. View more context for this quotation 1709 D. Manley 131 How fanciful are the Works of Mortals! They also are numbered by the Days that Phoebus counts in his Solar Course. 1781 H. Downman iii. v. 367 By th'eternal gods In their exalted sphere our days are numbered. 1816 W. Scott III. iii. 55 My days are numbered—your mother-in-law is in the extremity of age, and, if I see her not to-day, we may never meet. 1847 C. Brontë II. x. 253 The month of courtship had wasted: its very last hours were being numbered. 1883 10 Nov. 5/3 We are told by croakers that the days of fox-hunting are numbered in these sporting islands. 1944 22 July 2/1 Adolf Hitler's days are numbered. His purge of 1944 is something from which his party and his army will never recover. 1984 viii. 457 The successful use of screw-propulsion on smaller ships was numbering the days of the sailing fleet. the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > assemble (people or animals) > up to a certain number 1382 2 Chron. ii. 2 And he noumbrede seuenty thousand of men berynge in schulderis. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy (1901) I. ii. xvii. 195 Quhen þir consulis war nowmerand þare legiouns,..Comperit afore þame ane huge pepill desiring peace. 1611 1 Kings xx. 25 Number thee an armie, like the armie that thou hast lost. View more context for this quotation 1661 T. Ross tr. Silius Italicus vii. 210 This done, his Army number'd in the Plain, To's Camp upon the Hills, with Joy, again The old Dictatour, makes a safe Retreat. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > as a series ?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena (Harl.) (1966) 33 (MED) These ben þe vertues, and oþire manye mo, whiche þou miȝtest not noumbre, whiche comen of mannys loue to his neiȝbore. R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle 97 (MED) No þinge emonge all oþer þat may be nowmbyrde of clarkis..may vs socur so mikyll. c1440 (?a1400) 2658 They are nowmerde fulle neghe and namede in rollez, Sexty thowsande forsothe. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 1088 Than sir Bors de Ganys cam..and he was numbir[de] he smote downe twenty knyghtes. 1531 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece I. i. 62 To nowmer thair genelogy first fra Brutus. 1590 C. Marlowe sig. H8 So from Arabia desart..Came forty thousand warlike foot and horse, Since last we numbred to your Maiesty. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 18 The quantities of ladders, bridges, shot, powder, and other furnitures following so royal an armie, what pen can number? 1686 tr. J. Chardin 252 Relicks..among which they number up the Veronique. 1765 G. Colman v. ii. 616 Need I, Demipho, Number up each particular; and say How good a wife I've been? 1775 R. B. Sheridan v. i. 83 When you number up the many true delights it has deprived you of–let it not be your least regret, that it lost you the love of one—who would have follow'd you in beggary through the world! 1850 H. F. Gould 34 As busy Memory numbered up The honey-drops and gall, He in the waters dashed her cup To wash it free of all. 1871 R. H. Hutton (1877) I. 4 If..you numbered up the acts of trust. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > amount to or total a1450 (Univ. Coll. Oxf.) (1912) 3050 People he had in the feelde, Whiche were nombred of spere and sheelde An hundred thousand. 1472–3 VI. 36/2 His Purs and xxii li. of money nombred..they robbed. a1500 (c1400) (Adv.) (1843) 2220 He mad colagys and chyrchys mony That nomburd wer to fowre and fowrty. a1500 (a1460) (1897–1973) 66 (MED) Now are they nowmbred of myghty men moo then ccc thousand. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. av Thay drive on the da deir be dalis & doun And of the nobillest be name noumerit of nyne. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece iii. xv. f. xxxvi/1 The army of Caratak at this tyme wes noumerit to xl.M. men. a1578 R. Lindsay (1899) I. 400 All maner of men..quhilk gaif thair mustaris and was fund numberit be the heraldis fyftie thowsand men. 1629 J. Gaule Panegyrick 43 in Had I..Tongues and Lips numbred to those Hands of the Poets Briareus. 3. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > include [verb (transitive)] > count in or include among c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds i. 17 Judas..was noumbrid in [a1425 L.V. among] vs. c1475 ( Surg. Treat. in f. 19 (MED) Oþere diuers bonys þer ben in þe heed þat ben not noumbrid among þese as þe neþir chekeboon & alle þe teeþ on boþe sidis. 1493 (Pynson) 27 She was acceptyd so in the lordys sight, To be noumbryd one of the maydyns fyue. c1520 M. Nisbet (1905) III. Acts i. 17 Judas that..was novmerit amang vs. 1549 (STC 16267) Mattyns f. iiv Make them to be noumbred with thy sainctes. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 67 Henceforth be neuer numbred among men. View more context for this quotation 1624 P. Massinger iv. ii. sig. H2 Happy those times, When Lords..numbred Their seruants almost equall with their Sonnes. 1652 J. Gaule xxvi. sig. l2v To these dreamers, we may number those, who give a faith of divinity to the vaticinations of madmen. 1719–20 J. Swift (1721) 9 If..he be any where too obscure..it ought to be numbred among his Omissions. 1753 T. Smollett I. i. 4 An Englishwoman, who, after having been five times a widow in one campaign, was..numbered among the baggage of the allied army. 1782 J. H. St. J. de Crèvecoeur iii. 50 Formerly they were not numbered in any civil lists of their country, except in those of the poor. 1817 P. B. Shelley ix. xxix. 207 Let sense and thought..be numbered not Among the things that are. 1884 20 Feb. 4/7 The nation which is proud to number him among her sons. 1912 ‘Saki’ ii. 33 A colleague whose House had the embarrassing distinction of numbering Comus among its inmates. 1985 J. N. Isbister i. 13 Freud numbered in his relations two rabbis. the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > condition or state of being inclusive > be included in something [verb (intransitive)] > among others 1702 N. Rowe (ed. 2) i. i. 1 When we number with the living, We say the most we can. 1749 P. Francis tr. Horace ii. 139 Virtue, to Crouds a Foe profest, Disdains to number with the Blest. 1792 S. Whyte Epit. on Old John in 142 He liv'd approv'd, was honour'd at his death, And in the end shall number with the bless'd. 1815 J. Cottle xx. 367 Fain would thy David number with the dead! 1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in 85 And tho' thou numberest with the followers Of One who cried ‘leave all and follow me’. a1974 L. Durrell Soliloquy Hamlet in (1985) 77 The king who stiffens in a shirt of blood, Too good, too grave to number with the crumbs, Can leave an incubus to this winter castle. 1997 25 Jan. (Siemens Nixdorf Advertising section) 70/2 The Bank of Ireland numbers among the leading financial institutions of the Emerald Isle. 4. society > communication > indication > marking > marking to identify > be distinctive mark on [verb (transitive)] > put identifying mark on > with number a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. 1122 (MED) The Signe which is nombred eighte Is Scorpio. a1513 J. Irland (1965) II. 20 Distingand & numerand the artiklis of the faith eftir the nowmer of the apostlis. 1593 T. Fale f. 12 Number the residue of the lines in their place as they follow in order. 1651 T. Hobbes iv. xlvi. 374 Men divide a Body in their thought, by numbring parts, of it, and in numbring those parts number also the parts of the Place it filled. 1678 J. Moxon I. vi. 100 These Inches are numbred from one end of the Rule to the other. 1732–3 B. Franklin in 11 Jan. The Counterfeiters, with all their care and exactness, have entirely omitted numbering their Bills; at least none of those are number'd which are seized. 1802 T. Jefferson Let. 18 Apr. in (1984) 1104 Each of the 9. letters is then numbered according to the place it would hold if the 9. were arranged alphabetically. 1849 T. B. Macaulay I. iii. 360 The houses were not numbered. There would indeed have been little advantage in numbering them. 1877 c. 60 §3 Every canal boat..shall be lettered, marked, and numbered in some conspicuous manner. 1907 J. Conrad ii. 17 One..bore the number 9 and the other was numbered 37. 1955 G. Gorer xiii. 231 Respondents were asked, if they agreed with more than one statement, to number them in order of their importance. 1993 May (Insert) 88–89 Remove all baseboards, shoe mouldings (number them so you can replace them in the same sequence), radiator grates and floor vents. 1844 7 Dec. 1115/2 The corps formed one entire regiment, numbered off by battalions. 1846 M. B. Betham-Edwards Diary 25 Dec. in 4 (1936) 231 Our line had been numbered off—one, two—with orders that number two reserve its fire while number one fired, and while reloading, number two fire. 1893 at Countermarch sb. It is now superseded by ‘changing ranks’, in which the whole simply face about, and number off anew, the rear rank then becoming the front. 1932 T. E. Lawrence tr. Homer x So I numbered off my mail-clad followers and divided them into two sections, each with its leader. 1937 D. M. Jones v. 121 After you've numbered-off you can wait ten minutes in the driven rain. 1990 C. Francome 59 The children stand around the leader in a semi-circle and are numbered off until the last two become Jack and then King or Queen. 1846 G. Grote II. i. xviii. 33 Codrus is numbered as the last king of Athens. 5. society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > count or weigh out in payment 1474 in W. Fraser (1858) 248 Williame of Striueline..to pay and content to me..the soume of tua hundreth marcis of gud and usual money..in ane hale soume..in money novmeryt and tauld..upon the hie altar of the paroch kyrk of Logy. 1481 in J. Robertson (1857) III. 463 The soume of fourty pundis..to be tald and nowmeryt befor notabil witnes. 1494 No. 583 The mone beand nowmerit & lokkit in ane boxis & deliuerit to the positoure. 1502 (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/13) f. 153v lli in Redy money nombred. 1521 No. 3 3 Nov. Thane it sal be lefull to the sad Johne..to nowmer the sad sowme of sevine scor of merks apone the sad hie altare. 1574 in R. Renwick (1897) IV. 22 Williame Muir..numbrit, tald and delyverit to Walter Dowglas..the sowme of ane hundreyth libris. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1895) II. 237 The mony promiset him..is numbret. 1671 J. Milton 1478 His ransom..shall willingly be paid And numberd down. View more context for this quotation 1725 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Portland (1901) VI. 140 in (Cd. 676) XXXVI. i. 1 The seller carries home to the merchant's house what goods they had bargained for, where he has immediately his money numbered down. 1535 1 Sam. xiv. 17 And whan they nombred, beholde, Ionathas & his wapen bearer was not there. a1640 P. Massinger (1658) v. iii. 26 Let my brother number His beads devoutly. 1692 J. Dryden 13 Anchises look'd not with so pleas'd a Face In numb'ring o'er his future Roman Race. 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer III. xiii. 262 Then on the sands he rang'd his wealthy store, The gold, the vests, the tripods, number'd o'er. 1785 W. Cowper v. 425 To wear out time in numb'ring to and fro The studs that thick emboss his iron door. 1813 P. B. Shelley iv. 57 Or thou delightst In numbering o'er the myriads of thy slain. 1845 N. P. Willis iii. 153 Oh, Heaven! with what new value do I now number over your adorable graces of person! 1886 R. L. Stevenson iv. 37 I numbered over before him the points on which I wanted explanation. the world > life > source or principle of life > [verb (transitive)] > apportion one's days with care 1535 Psalms lxxxix. 5 O teach vs to nombre oure dayes, that we maye applie our hertes vnto wyszdome. 1665 R. Brathwait 198 The Remainder of his Hours henceforth was to number his Daies. 1756 T. Amory I. 255 Vouchsafe we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of thy laws..and so teach us to number our days. 1860 J. W. Warter II. 133 Days of this life's pilgrimage spared to me in mercy to number wisely. the mind > will > necessity > fate or destiny as determining events > predestine or predetermine [verb (transitive)] > one's lot 1611 Isa. lxv. 12 Therefore will I number [L. numerabo] you to the sword. View more context for this quotation 1890 R. L. Stevenson 77 For here was the nation assembled, and there were the ovens anigh, And out of a thousand singers nine were numbered to die. the mind > possession > giving > distributing or dealing out > distribute or deal out [verb (transitive)] > divide into shares > divide and share out 1887 W. Morris tr. Homer I. x. 175 Then my well-greaved fellows I numbered [Gk. ἠρίθμεον] into two companies. 1977 W. S. Merwin ii. 29 How many hands of timepieces must be..clicking at a given moment numbering insects into machines to be codified. 6. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > number, calculate, or reckon [verb (transitive)] > amount to or total a1586 King Hart l. 42 in W. A. Craigie (1919) I. 256 Thir folk..Quhilk nummerit ane milȝon and weill mo. 1836 J. H. Ingraham I. ii. x. 185 The pirates numbered about fifty, and the force of the Americans was nearly equal. 1881 E. B. Tylor i. 7 It appears that the distinct languages known number about a thousand. 1883 22 Oct. 5/2 The crew and passengers numbered 33. 1910 I. 892/1 The arches [of the Colosseum] numbered eighty. 1920 C. Carswell i. i. 15 In Glasgow alone the registered converts numbered over thirty-two thousand. 1994 2 Apr. 7/1 The rare Amur tiger, which numbered 400 in 1990, is now down to 250 animals. the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > enumerate, reckon, or calculate [verb (intransitive)] > amount or be equal to 1842 Ld. Tennyson Two Voices in (new ed.) II. 138 A wife,..Whose troubles number with his days. the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > incorporation or inclusion > incorporate or include [verb (transitive)] > a number of persons or things 1867 C. Thirlwall III. 450 It would show not only that the Anglican Communion numbered so many Bishops. 1872 J. Yeats 91 Kafsah numbered in its environs..200 castles. 1881 E. A. Freeman 323 It is said that..Otranto numbered twenty-two thousand inhabitants. 1902 B. T. Washington vi. 105 The night-school at Hampton, which started with only twelve students, now numbers between three and four hundred. 1959 J. Barzun v. 136 The country still numbers a great many excellent teachers who know their own minds and speak them clearly. 1989 I. Frazier iv. 50 The Teton Sioux soon numbered seven bands. the world > life > source or principle of life > age > [verb (transitive)] 1590 G. Peele 9 Thirty-three [years] she numbereth, in her throne, That long..I pray May number many to these thirty-three. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. v. 81 Of as able bodie as when he number'd thirty. View more context for this quotation 1657 G. Wharton (1683) 49 The Greek Church numbereth from the Creation to Christ's Æra, 5508 complete years..The year 1657, current of the Christian Æra. 1753 S. Richardson II. xviii. 193 A fine piece of flattery, Lucy, to a man who numbered near three times her years. a1800 W. Cowper Yardley-Oak in W. Hayley (1804) III. 409 My birth (Since which I number three-score winters past). 1826 J. F. Cooper II. xi. 192 They were all aged..but one..had numbered an amount of years, to which the human race is seldom permitted to attain. 1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin III. xxi. 535 This colony,..from its very foundation then numbered only three-and-thirty years! 1898 T. Hardy 117 She numbered near on sixty years, And passed as elderly. society > communication > printing > publishing > publish [verb (transitive)] > publish in numbers 1781 G. Crabbe 8 A Folio-number once a week; Bibles with cuts and comments thus go down, E'en light Voltaire is number'd through the town. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.c1300 v.c1325 |
