Abstract number

Number Num"ber (n[u^]m"b[~e]r), n. [OE. nombre, F. nombre, L. numerus; akin to Gr. no`mos that which is dealt out, fr. ne`mein to deal out, distribute. See {Numb}, {Nomad}, and cf. {Numerate}, {Numero}, {Numerous}.] 1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures. [1913 Webster]

2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many. [1913 Webster]

Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a number on a door. [1913 Webster]

4. Numerousness; multitude. [1913 Webster]

Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable. [1913 Webster]

Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number. --2 Esdras iii. 7. [1913 Webster]

6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things. [1913 Webster]

7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; -- chiefly used in the plural. [1913 Webster]

I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

8. (Gram.) The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one. [1913 Webster]

9. (Math.) The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value. [1913 Webster]

{Abstract number}, {Abundant number}, {Cardinal number}, etc. See under {Abstract}, {Abundant}, etc.

{In numbers}, in numbered parts; as, a book published in numbers. [1913 Webster]