Numb-ers

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

abc - 27 Feb 2009 19:51 GMT

Hi all,

somewhere I read:

NUMB: numb, benumb, blunt, dull, asleep, benumbed

and now I am wondering whether this provides some insight on the
etymology of...

NUMBER

:-)

Any ideas?

Reply to this Message

Cece - 27 Feb 2009 20:13 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Any ideas?

None whatsoever. Read the etymology sections for these words in
American Heritage Dictionary: http://www.bartleby.com/61/12/N0191200.html

Reply to this Message

Maria Conlon - 27 Feb 2009 20:57 GMT

> abc wrote, in part:

>> somewhere I read:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> None whatsoever. Read the etymology sections for these words in
> American Heritage Dictionary: http://www.bartleby.com/61/12/N0191200.html

Note: "number" -- pronounced "nummer," with no 'b' sound -- refers to
something that numbs someone. In our family, a "nummer" is a shot of whiskey
(aka "a sup of the stuff").

No relation to the other "number" unless you're counting how many someone
has had.

And now, I must install QuoteFix on this new computer. I had to put the
above >>s in by hand.

Signature

Maria Conlon,
Who also needs to put her sig(s) in the Insert file

Reply to this Message

Martin Ambuhl - 27 Feb 2009 21:14 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> NUMBER

Yes, the comparative adjective "number" is derived from "numb" according
to the customary rules of English morphology. If you have problems with
that, use the somewhat more long "more numb".

Reply to this Message

Robert Bannister - 27 Feb 2009 22:28 GMT

> Hi all,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> NUMBER

Puns on "number" occur frequently in cryptic crosswords.

Signature

Rob Bannister

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2009

Numb-ers