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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Nombre, Numbre, Number, v. Also: nomber, -air, numbir, nwmbre, nowmbr-. [ME. noumbri (a 1297), ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. noumbre, noumbir, nombre, nombyr, e.m.E. numbre (1584), number (1579), OF. nombrer. Cf. Noumer v.]

1. To number, count, calculate or enumerate, in senses 1 to 4 of Noumer v. tr., also intr. or absol.(1) 1456 Hay I. 57/2 i.
Nane coud nombre the grete multitude of peple that deid 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 61.
The hail warld put was to discriptioun To numbir [v.rr. nomyr, nowmer] all the pepill tharin suldbe 1535 Stewart 19401.
Numberit 1629 Conv. Burghs III. 284.
That the magistrattis trye the lenth of the hesp and caus nomber the threids thairof 1679 J. Barclay Descr. Cath. Ch. 13.
Some numbring beeds(2) a1578 Pitsc. I. 400/15.
All maner of man … quhilk gaif thair mustaris and was fund numberit be the heraldis fyftie thowsand men 1603 Old Ross-shire I. 171.
Sevin bolls twa fir. beir guid and sufficient merchand wair weill numbrit and dicht(3) 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 36.
Quhen he is fourtene ȝeares compleit or quhen he can number and tell silver(4) ?1438 Alex. i. 1669.
Numbred c1420 Wynt. ii. 973.
Schyr Danaws … Off dowchtrys nowmbryde [v.rr. nowmeryt, nomerit] had fyfty c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3405.
Nomberit(5) 1622-6 Bisset II. 280/16.
Seing the first nomberis and calculatis be the callendis eftir the romane compt or rakning(6) 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 10.
Tyme sould feel me ere I couid nombair over all orders

2. To count or class in or with (a certain category of persons). = Noumer v. 6 b. 1596 Dalr. I. 117/5.
The thrid sorte … ar thay quha numberit ar in the laichest digrie Ib. 168/26.
This king … may weil be numbiret with the best

3. To count out (money); to pay over in cash. = Noumer v. 9.Also e.m.E. p.p. nombred (1502), numberd (1671), numbered (1725) in same sense. 1574 Glasgow Prot. IV. 22.
Williame Muir … numbrit, tald and delyverit to Walter Dowglas … the sowme of ane hundreyth libris 1596 Dalr. II. 237/19.
The mony promiset him … is numbret