numb-fish 
numb-fish (nnm'fish), H. The electric ray or 
torpeiln: MI <-:illeil from its power of benumb- 
ing. Also called cl-il/ll/i-ji^li. See l:n iniln. 
numbles ( innn'blz), '' /'' [< M '' iinnililfx, noiint- 
Illi'x, iiniriiiliil.i, <</ ////;*, < ()!'. nnmlili x. numbles 
(of a deer, etc.), pi. of nuniblc (ML/, reflex num- 
liilift, iiiniilii/t , iidnihiK, etc.), the parts of a deer 
I ict \voen the thighs, a loin of veal or pork, a chine 
of beef, also dim. numlilrt, iniiiihlit. unmMrt, non- 
-l, in like senses, lit. navel (in this sense :il> 
i; in ii/ii-t; ninbre), cf. dim. nombril, F. nom- 
hril, navel, var. (with initial for I, as also in 
HI'IV/, nircau, for lirel, level: see /crt/ 1 ) of //- 
Mr, liinblr, liuiiblr, Itiuiliri', linn/in , Imuhr, navel, 
pi. kidneys, prop. Fomble, etc., < le, the def. art., 
-I- umblc, ombil (F. ombilic) = Pr. ombilic = Sp. 
oml>lii/ii = !'{;. umbiijn, rmbii/o = It. iimbr/im, 
Ixllic'o, bilico = \Viill. Inirir, navel, < L. umliili- 
CH.S-, navel: see itiiiliilii-nn and IH//T/. In the par- 
ticular sense 'loin' (of veal, etc.), OF. 
lombre, etc. was prob. confused with 
longe, < L. /iii/iliiis(i\\m.luiiiln(!iis), loin: see/oi. 
The E. form numbles, by loss of initial u (as also 
in umpire, etc.) became umblen, sometimes writ- 
ten humbles, whence humble-pie, now associated 
with humble 3 , a.] The entrails of a deer. 
Then he fette to Lytell Johan 
The numbles of a doo. 
Lytell Oeste of Robyn Mode (Child's Ballads, V. 74). 
Home, as ft is reported, lay a part 01 the Numbles on the 
flre. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 371. 
numbness (num'nes), n. The state of being 
numb ; that state of a living body in which it has 
not the power of feeling, as when paralytic or 
chilled by cold : torpidity ; torpor. 
Come away ; 
Bequeath to death your numbness. 
Shak., W. T., v. 3. 102. 
My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains 
M v sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk. 
Keats, Ode to a Nightingale. 
numbroust (num'brus), a. See numberous. 
num-cumpus (uum-kum'pus), n. [A dial, cor- 
ruption of noli compos."} A fool; one who is 
non compos mentis. Davies. [Prov. Eng.] 
Sa like a graat num-cumpus I blubber'd awaay o' the bed. 
Tennyson, Northern Cobbler. 
numeite, . See noumeite. 
numen (nu'men), n.; pi. numina (nu'mi-na). 
[L., divinity, godhead, deity, a god or goddess, 
the divine will, divine sway, lit. a nod, for *w- 
men, < "nuere, in comp. annuere, innucre (= Or. 
vEtW), nod: see nutation.'} Divinity; deity; 
godhead. 
The Divine presence hath made all places holy, and every 
place hath a Numen in it, even the eternal God. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1836), 1. 112. 
Numenius (nu-me'ui-us), n. [NL., < Gr. vovfty- 
viof, a kind of curlew, perhaps so called from 
its crescent-shaped beak,< vovp/vio^, of the new 
moon, contr. of veo/tj/vioc. , < vfof, new, + ut/yri, 
moon: seeneicandrooonl.] A genus of the snipe 
family, Scolopacida,' ; the curlews. The bill Is very 
long, slender, and decurved, with the tip of the upper 
mandible knobbed ; the toes are semipalmate ; thehallux 
is present, small, and elevated ; the tarsus 1s much longer 
than the middle toe, scutellate only in front, elsewhere 
reticulate. There are about 15 species, found all over the 
world. See curlew, whimbrel, and cut under dough-bird. 
numerable (nii'me-ra-bl), a. [= OF. nombra- 
blc, Humbrabte = Sp. numerable = Pg. numerarcl 
= It. numcrabile, < L. numcrabilis, that can be 
numbered or counted, < numerare, count, num- 
ber: see numerate.'} Capable of being numer- 
ated, counted, or reckoned. 
In regard to Qod they are numerable, but in regard to 
vs they are multiplied aboue the sand of the sea shore, in 
as much as wee cannot comprehend their number. 
Hakewill, Apology, IV. IT. 3. 
One of those rare men, numerable, unfortunately, but as 
units ill this world. The Century, XXXI. 404. 
numeral (nu'me-ral), a. and n. [= F. numeral 
(OF. nombral) = Sp.Pg. numeral = It. numerate, 
< L. numeralis, pertaining to number, < numerus, 
a number: MOMHMW>1 I. a. 1. Pertaining to 
number ; consisting of numbers. 
The dependence of a long train of numeral progression. 
Locke. 
2. Expressing number; representing number: 
as, numeral letters or characters, such as V or 
5 for five Numeral equation. See equation. =Syn. 
Numeral, Numerical. Nunural is more concrete tluin 
numerical: as, numeral luljcctives or letters; numerical 
value, difference, equality, or equations. 
II. w. 1. One of the series of words used in 
counting; a cardinal number. 2. A figure or 
character used to express a number: as, the 
Arabic niiinrriilg, \, 2, 3, etc., or the lioniiin 1111- 
*. I.V. X. L, C,D, M. 
4039 
There Is something In numerals. In the process of calcu- 
lation, extremely frosty and petrifying to a man. 
W. M. linker, .New Timothy, p. 180. 
3. lu gram., a word expressing a number or 
some relation of a number. Numerals are espe- 
cially the cardinals one, tun, three, etc. which are used 
both suhstxntlvdy and adjeclivcly ; and, by adjective der- 
ivation from these, thf >mliiutls third, fourth, fifth, etc. 
also used substantively, especially as fractional*. Mul- 
tiplicative* are such as twofold, tenfold, etc. ; and distribu- 
tor!, answering to our two by tiro, etc., are found In some 
liiMKuuKcs. Such words as many, all, any are often called 
indefinite numerals. Numeral adverbs are such as once, 
twice, thrice, and firstly, secondly, thirdly, etc. 
4. Iii musical notatvm : (a) An Arabic or Roman 
figure indicating a tone of the scale, as 1 for 
the tonic or do, 2 for re, 3 for >, etc. The ex- 
t. n.lril use cif this notation is best exemplified by the 
Chevc system, which much resembles the tonic sol-fa no- 
tation, except In Its use of Arabic figures instead of let- 
ters and syllables. (6) One of the figures used in 
thorough-bass, by which the constitution of a 
chord is indicated with reference to the bass 
tone or to the key-chord. 5. In the Anglo- 
Stij-on Ch., a calendar or directory telling ihe 
variations in the canonical hours and the mass 
caused by saints' days and festivals. Sock. 
numeralityt (nu-me-ral'i-ti), n. [< ML. nume- 
ralita(t-)s, number, { L. numeralis, numeral : see 
numeral."} Numerable state or condition ; capa- 
bility of being numbered; numeration. 
Yet are they not applicable unto precise numerality, nor 
strictly to be drawn unto the rigid test of numbers. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., IT. 12. 
numerally (nu'me-ral-i), arfr. As regards num- 
ber; according to number; in number. 
numerant (nu'me-rant), a. [< L. numeran(t-)s, 
ppr. of numerare, numerate, number: see numer- 
ate.] Counting Numerant number, a numeral 
word used in counting ; also, abstract number. 
numerary (nu'me-ra-ri), a. [< L. numeranvs, 
an arithmetician" an accountant, prop, adj., < 
numerus, a number: seewwm&er.] 1. Of or per- 
taining to number or numbers ; reckoned by or 
according to number; numerical. 
It was always found that the augmenting of the numer- 
ary value did not produce a proportional rise to the prices, 
at least for some time. Hume, Essays, ii. 3. 
2. Belonging to a certain number ; included or 
reckoned within the proper or fixed number. 
A supernumerary canon, when he obtains aprebend, be- 
comes a numerary canon. Aylife, Parergon. 
numerate (nu'me-rat), v. t. and i. ; pret. and 
pp. numerated, ppr. numerating. [< L. nume- 
ratus, pp. of numerare, count, reckon, number, 
< numerus, a number: see number."} To count; 
reckon ; read (an expression in figures) accord- 
ing to the rules of numeration ; enumerate. 
numerate (nu'me-rat), a. [< L. numerates, pp. : 
see the verb.] Counted. Numerate number, con- 
crete number. 
numeration (uu-me-ra'shpn), n. [= F. nume- 
ration = Sp. numeracion = Pg. numeracSo = It. 
numcrazione, < L. numeratio(n-), a counting out, 
paying, payment, < numerare, pp. numerates, 
count, reckon, number: see numerate.] 1. The 
act of numbering. 
Numeration is but still the adding of one unit more, and 
giving to the whole a new name or sign. Locke. 
2. In arith., the art of counting; the art of form- 
ing numeral words for use in eounting ; the sys- 
tem of numeral words in use in any language ; 
the art of expressing in words any number pro- 
posed in figures ; the act or art of reading num- 
bers. See notation Decimal numeration. See 
decimal. 
numeratiye (nu'me-ra-tiv), a. and n. [= F. 
iimeratif= It. numerativo; as numerate + -ive."} 
I. a. Pertainingto numeration orto numbering. 
II. . Same as classifier, 3. 
numerator (nu'me-ra-tqr), n. [= F. numfra- 
ti'itr = Sp. Pg. numerator = It. numeratore, < 
LL. numerator, a counter, a reckoner, < L. n- 
merare, pp.numeratus, count, number: see nu- 
merate.] 1. One who numbers. 2. In arith., 
the number in a vulgar fraction which shows 
how many parts of a unit are taken. Thus, when 
a unit is divided into 9 equal parts, and 5 are taken to form 
the fraction, it is expressed thus, 3 that is, five ninths 
5 being the numerator and 9 the denominator. 
nunierict (nu-mer'ik), a. and n. [< F. numf- 
rique = Sp. numerico = Pg. It. numerico, < L. 
tiiimcrus, a number: see number."} I. a. Same 
as numerical, -. 
This is the same numeric crew 
That we so lately did subdue. 
S. Butler. Hudibras, I. ill. 462. 
II. n. An abbreviated form of numerical ex- 
presxion. 
numerical (nu-mer'i-kal), a. [< numeric + -a/.] 
1. Belonging to or denoting number; consist- 
numerous 
ing of or represented by numbers or figures, M 
in arithmetic, and not by letters, as in algebra: 
as, a nun/I rii-nl quantity; numerical equations; 
a numerical majority. In algebra, numerical, as op- 
posed to literal, applies to an expression In which numbers 
nave the place nf letters: thus, a numerical equation Is 
one In which all the quantities except the unknown are 
. -xprcueil in number*. The numerical solution of equa- 
tions ls the assignment of the numbers which, substituted 
for the unknowns, satisfy the equations : opposed to an 
alyebraic solution. As opposed to algebraical, it also ap- 
plies to the magnitude of a quantity considered indepen- 
dently of Its slKii. Thus, the numerical value of 10 Is 
said to be greater than that of -5, though It Is algebrai- 
cally leea, 
2. The same in number; hence, the same in de- 
tails; identical. [Kare.] 
So that I make a Question whether, by reason of these 
perpetual Preparations and Accretions, the Body of Man 
may be said to be the same numerical Body in his old Age 
that he had in hli Manhood. ll'.mll, Letters, I. I. 31. 
Would to God that all my fellow brethren which with 
me bemoan the loss of their books, with me might rejoice 
for the recovery thereof, though not the same numerical 
volumes. Fuller. 
Numerical aperture of an objective. Seeobjccticc, 3. 
Numerical difference, equation, notation, etc. See 
the nouns. Numerical unity or Identity, that of an 
individual or singular. = 8yn. 1. See numeral. 
numerically (nu-mer'i-kal-i), adf. As re- 
gards number; in point of numbers; in num- 
bers or figures; with respect to numerical quan- 
tity: as, the party in opposition is numerically 
stronger than the other; parts of a thing nu- 
merically expressed; an algebraic expression 
numerically greater than another. 
The total amount of energy in the Universe Is Invariable, 
and la numerically constant. 
A. Daniett, Prin. of Physics, p. 40. 
numeristt (nu'me-rist), n. [< L. numerus, a 
number, + -ist."} "One who deals with numbers. 
We . . . should rather assign a respective fatality unto 
each which is concordant unto the doctrine of the numerist. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., Iv. 12. 
iiuniero (nu'me-ro), w. [= F. numero, < L. u- 
mero, abl. of numerus, number: see n6er.] 
Number; the figure or mark by which any num- 
ber of things is distinguished : abbreviated A'o. : 
as, he lives at No. T (usually read or spoken 
"number?"). 
numerosity (nu-me-ros'i-ti), w. [= Sp. nume- 
rosidad = Pg. numerosidade = It. numerosita, < 
L. numerosita(t-)s, a great number, a multitude, 
< numerosttK, numerous: see numerous.'] 1. The 
state of being numerous ; numerousness; large 
number. .Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iv. 12. 
Marching In a circle with the cheap numernsily of a stage- 
army. Lowell, Study Windows, p. 33. 
Your fellow-mortals are too numerous. Numerosity as 
it were, swallows up quality. 
H. James, Jr., Portraits of Places, p. 196. 
2. Harmonious flow; poetical rhythm; har- 
mony. 
I haue set downe Ian example] to let you perceiue what 
pleasant numerority in the measure and disposition of your 
words In a meetre may be contrlued. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesle, p. 103. 
Melody Is rather numerority, a blending murmur, than 
one full concordance. 
E. Wadham, Eng. Versification, p. 114. 
numerotage (nu-me-ro-tazh'), n. [< F. numero- 
tage, a numbering, < numeroter, number, < nu- 
mero, < L. numerus, a number: see numero, 
number."] The numbering or system of num- 
bering yarns according to fineness. 
numerous (nu'me-rus), a. [= F. nonibreux = 
Sp. Pg. It. nttmeroso, < L. numerosus, consisting 
of a great number, manifold, < numerus, a num- 
ber: see 6er.] 1. Consisting of a great 
number of individuals: as, ^numerous army. 
Such and so numerous was their chivalry. 
Milton, P. R., lit. 344. 
I have contracted a numerous acquaintance among the 
best sort of people. Steele, Spectator, No. 88. 
We had an Immense party, the most numerous ever 
known there. GrenUe, Memoirs, Aug. 30, 1819. 
2. A great many ; not a few ; forming a great 
number: as, numerous objects attract the at- 
tention ; attacked by numerous enemies. 
Numerous laws of transition, connection, preparation, 
are different for a writer In verse and a writer in prose. 
DC Quincty, Herodotus. 
These [savages] who reside where water abounds, with 
the same Industry kill the hippopotami, or river-horses, 
which are exceedingly numerous in the pools of the stag- 
nant rivers. Bruce, Source of the Nile, II. 647. 
3t. Consisting of poetic numbers; rhythmical; 
melodious; musical. 
And the Oreeke and Latine Poesie was by verse numer- 
ous and metrical!, running vpon pleasant feete, sometimes 
swift, sometimes slow. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesle, p. 7. 
