number
UK[ˈnʌmbə]US[ˈnʌmbər]
n
a word or symbol that represents an amount or quantity
n
a numeral or series of numerals used to identify someone or something
v
to give a number to something as part of an ordered series
v
to amount to a specified quantity or total
Morpheme Breakdown
numb
er
numb
to take
er
agent suffix
Etymology
The word 'number' originates from the Latin 'numerus', meaning a quantity or multitude. This Latin term was adopted into Anglo-French as 'nombre', which then entered Middle English. The modern spelling with a 'b' reflects its Latin root, and the final '-er' is a vestige of its journey through Old French, where it was a common noun ending. The core concept has remained remarkably stable from its ancient sense of "a counted collection" to its modern abstract and symbolic uses in mathematics and identification.
Analysis
Structure: numb (to take) + er (agent suffix)
'numb' from Middle English 'noumbre', from Anglo-French 'nombre', from Latin 'numerus' (number, quantity). 'er' is an English agent suffix, but in this word, it is a fossilized part of the loanword, not a productive suffix.
Examples
The number of participants has increased significantly.
Please write your phone number on the form.
The pages of the report number over one hundred.