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Where does the word "number" come from? It comes from Latin numerus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "number" come from? It comes from Latin numerus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Number’s story begins in Latin: numerus meant “number.” The root of 'numeral' and 'numerous'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nombre. The 'b' formed naturally between m and r in French. It reached English by 1200s as number. 'numbers' as a gambling racket is 1890s American slang. Today, number means an arithmetical value.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient numerus "number", the root of 'numeral' and 'numerous'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval nombre "number", the 'b' formed naturally between m and r in French.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s number "number", 'numbers' as a gambling racket is 1890s American slang.