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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.

Noumer, Num(m)er, Nom(m)er, n. Also: noumere, -yr, nowmer(e, -ir, -yr(e, nouwmyr; numere, num(m)eir, -ir, -yr, nwmer, -yr; nomer(e, -ir, -yr, -are; newmer. [Late north ME. noumer (c 1400), nowmer (c 1440), otherwise appar. only Sc., varr. of Nombre n.]

1. The exact sum or aggregate (of a collection of persons or things, or const. possess. pron.).(a) 1457–8 Acta Conc. II. xiv.
The nowmer of [lords of session] that sal sit sall be ix c1515 Asl. MS. I. 165/12.
It war to lang to tell the nowmere … of thire iles Ib. 189/15.
The quhilk novmer of kingis cummis to vj^xx 1490 Irland Mir. II. 20/8.
Distingand & numerand the artiklis of the faith eftir the nowmer of the apostlis thai ar xii artiklis contenit in it Ib. I. 66/15. 1513 Doug. i. iv. 61.
Quhil he to grond had brocht sevin hartis grete And with his schippis thar nowmyr equale maid 1531 Bell. Boece I. 53. 1585 Reg. Privy C. III. 751.
The meill of the chalmer to be according to the nowmer of the beddis thairin 1586 Crim. Trials I. ii. 148.
Ordaning thame to supplie the nowmer of the absentis [persons] 1587 Acts III. 443/2.(b) 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 77 (Sm.).
Of thar schippis the nummeir [C. numbir] and maner Lat thame command 1549 Compl. 15/4.
He sau neuyr the litil nummir of them that fechtis nor the grite nummir of them that fleis for dreddour c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2760.
One gret arme … Quhose nummer bene so vntrowabyll 1599 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 39. 1616 Conv. Burghs III. 32.
The said Thomas Watt hes his full numer of prenteisses (to wit thrie) 1627 Rep. Parishes 21.
The numere of communicantis ane hundrethe or thairby(c) 1479 Acta Conc. I. 38/1.
To prefe the nomer and avale of the said gudis 1535 Hannay College of Justice 129.
The nomer of the lordis of sessioun wes sum thing waik and divers of thame wes absent c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2584.
Nommer Ib. 6224.

b. The title of the biblical book of Numbers. — 1551 Hamilton Cat. 69.
The buke of Nowmeris

2. The particular sum or aggregate of the things or persons specified. c1475 Wall. xi. 376.
xix thai war, and Craufurd, with gud will, The twentyd man, the nowmer to fullfill 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 288.
We … beleyffit … tyll hawe haid … twa thwsand Scoittis men. Bot … we fand ws faire by that nwmyr 1551 Hamilton Cat. 29.
Trewly we suld keip thame thre maner of wayis. First hailelie in perfite nowmer 1554 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 778.
Ma novmer is put thairto nor wes thir ten yeris bygane 1579 Acts III. 179/2. 1586 Crim. Trials I. ii. 148.
His tryell stayis becaus that thair laikis ȝit sum personis of ane perfyte nowmer 1622-6 Bisset I. 15/32.
Gif any gettis, the nowmer ar bot few

3. Accompanied by specification of the number in the phrases (abone and to, also till) the nowmer of (so many).(1) 1489 Acts II. 220/2.
The nomer of vj persounis at the fewast a1500 Bk. Chess 682.
He … gart of his men To ly hir by the novmer nyne or ten 1543–4 Chart. Coupar A. II. 194.
Thai sail haue sufficient … stabling … to … harbur the nowmer of tuelf or sextene hors 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 135.
Nomyr 1583 Ayr & Gall. Coll. VI. 227.
Gif the said Robert gettis the nummer of four lastis [of herring](2) 1527 Acta Conc. MS. XXXVIII. 64.
At nane … abon the nowmir of viii or ix persons … be permittit to sit on the lang bynk(3) 1471 Acta Aud. 20/2.
The … gadering of … liegis to the novmer of lx 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 295.
Grathing … with irne grath to the nowmir of xvj 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 285/1.
To mak subtenentis … to quhat nowmer thai ples 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 278.
To the nowmer of lxxx of personis bodine in feire of weire 1555 Prot. Bk. T. Dalrymple 14.
Certane fwylȝe … to the quantite & nowmer of x or xij hors laidis 1562 Peebles B. Rec. I. 281. 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 517.
His haill kippage … to the nowmer of sex men and ane boy 1622-6 Bisset I. 91/19.(b) 1549 Compl. 93/10.
He gart hang … to the nummer of sexten scoir of the maist nobillis of the cuntre 1555 Corr. M. Lorraine 399.
Being to the nummir only of twa hundreth men 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. 355. 1562 Inverness Rec. I. 95.
Nummer 1566 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 219.
Nvmer 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 311.
Nwmer a1578 Pitsc. I. 118/19.
The north pairt of Scotland … to the numer with the King of all peopill threttie thowsand men(c) 1481–2 Misc. Spald. C. II. 324.
Wyth the assent … of owre conuent of Donde tyll the nomyr of forteyn freris 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 441/2.
Thar ar in this realme to the nomer of ane levin abbayis of monkis 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 270.
Nomere a1578 Pitsc. II. 301/6.
Nommer

b. In or to (ane) gude (sufficient, certain) noumer, to a full (adequate, certain) aggregate or total, in full number, fully. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 96/30.
At this tyme war fundin in gude nowmer within the wallis of Rome lxxx^m men 1542 Tytler Hist. III. 8.
With all the gentilmen and servyngmen … to ane gud nowmer 1544 Reg. Privy S. III. 133/1.
With maisteris … and marinaris in ilk schip to sufficient noumer to fure the sammyn 1559–60 St. A. Kirk S. 13.
Multipliing of them [prayers] to certane numer and all ceremonies useit in papistrie

4. The full tale or count of a body of persons or things. 1513 Doug. vi. xi. 6.
Hail the nowmyr of hys geneologye 1569–70 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 367.
Ane buik contening the haill numer of personis of thair delatioun 1622-6 Bisset I. 141/1.
The day of the executioun … suld nocht be compted in the numer of the dais prescryved be the law Ib. II. 105/21.
Heir followes the … numer of all the monasteries … ministeries … nunries and cells withtin the kingdome

b. A particular body or class of persons. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5310.
The letter tyme sall schortnit be For plesour of the chosin nummer Ib. 6296.
All the childryng of the chosin noumer 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 525.
Scho fand the foirsaid nowmer of personis accowterit in maner foirsaid, all mussallit 1604 Craig i. 13.
Of that vnthankfull numer [sc. parasites] liue anew

c. In contexts denoting inclusion in, or selection from, a particular company, body or class of persons or things.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 31.
Dauid … Four & twenty prestis made … & of this nowmir sexten were Of the kyne of Eleazare Ib. xxxviii. 415.
Of the fare nowmir for to be Of haly men & reste in le 1456 Hay I. 179/25.
Wenand that under his sauf condyt he may lede him as ane of his said nowmer c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxiii. 27.
I … Vnworthy … in thair nummer to be tald 1513 Doug. i. v. 107.
Quham … Amang the nowmyr of goddis ressaue thou sall 1531 Bell. Boece I. lxiii. a1538 Abell 51 a.
Sum puttis him nocht in nowmir of papis 1549 Compl. 61/8.
viij sortis of vyndis, of the quhilk numir ther is iiij callit vyndis cardinal c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5142.
Tyll all thame of the faithfull nummer 1562-3 Winȝet I. 5/29. Ib. 56/35, 62/21.
Ignorantis and wikit persones … of the quhilk nummer we confesse the maist part of vs … to haue bene a1578 Pitsc. I. 243/32.
Thair posteritie micht sie eftir quhat nummer thai haue beine and how thay vsit thame sellffis to the Kingis graice … pleasour 1603 Philotus cxxxii.
Thou's be nane of my nummer 1622-6 Bisset I. 201/11.
The lordis appoyntis uthir foure of there numer to succeid … quhill the course cum about the [haill] numer(2) 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 2.
The eldaris and diaconis salbe chosyn and elecced furth of the numer [given] in wryt 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 500.
Justices and commissioners … electit of the nowmer of the senatoures of his college of justice

5. A (large, small, etc.) company or aggregate of persons or things. a. Without the indefin. article.(1) 1456 Hay I. 53/17.
With the quhilk he sawdit grete nowmer of men of armys 1484 Peebles B. Rec. I. 192.
With sufficiant nowmer of nychtbouris to the vaill of xxxvj or may 1492 Myll Spect. 280/26. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 229.
Men with licht harnes … schot incredibill nowmer of stanis Ib. 479.
Bot mair nowmer war slane of his contrapart Id. Livy I. 108/1.
The ordoure of senatouris for thare few nowmer suld be the les estemyt 1533 Boece viii. xij. 277 b.
Mare copios nowmer of Saxons than afore c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5684.
With small nummer of monkis and freris … That [etc.] 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 133.
Or the supporte of ony noumer of privat men 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 23.
Beand oure fre burgh royall and large nummer of inhabitantis(2) 1449 Acts II. 36/1.
That … officiaris … ryde bot with competent & esy nowmer 1479 Acta Aud. 74/2.
He mycht haue had sufficient novmer and enew within the sammyn boundis 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 131.
Gif it suld hapyn the Lord Forbes or his friendis to cum to the said tovn … in ony greit nummyr 1531 Bell. Boece I. xlii.
Thir last fowlis ar not frequent bot in few noumer Ib. 83.
He wes irkit of so surfet noumer 1533 Montgomery Mem. I. 120. 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III. 15/2.
Assisis … to sufficient newmer 1558 Treas. Acc. X. 375.
That thai with thair hors, cartis, sleddis and crelis in sic noumer 1564 Crim. Trials I. i. 448.
That this few noumer can never suffir the law … nor the few noumer can nocht ordand 1573 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 761.

b. With the indefin. article.(1) 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 268.
Ane sufficient nowmer of ane assise 1531 Bell. Boece I. 152. 1533 Boece ix. x. 311 b.
Sanct Colm … rewlit na litill nowmer of abbayis and cellis Ib. ii. xii. 83. 1535 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 70.
Ane greitt nummer meill sellares 1540–1 Elgin Rec. I. 58.
Nwmyr 1549 Compl. 6/19.
Nummir Ib. 56/35.
Numir 1550–1 Corr. M. Lorraine 344.
Nomer c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3113.
Ane new armye … With elephantis ane hyddous nommer 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 339. 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 65.
Sua movit the hartis of a gude nowmer of thame 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 400.
Ane huge nowmer of volumis and bukis a1578 Pitsc. II. 310/1.
Nommer 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 175.
Maister Clement Littill … hes left ane sufficient nummer of guid and godlie buikis to the ministrie 1587 Acts III. 449/2.
A verie greit nowmer of messingeris 1599 Crim. Trials II. 99.
Haifing onlie outit ane few nowiner thairof 1602 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. ix. 40.
Na small nowmer of personis 1612 Jurid. Rev. X. 466.
Nowmer 1613 Conv. Burghs II. 403.
Ane competent nummer of measurs(2) 1498–9 Acta Conc. II. 305.
Our soverane lordis ald ennemyis of Ingland in ane gret nowmer 1531 Bell. Boece I. 206.
Becaus he wes bot ane few nowmer c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3145.
Semiramis had sic one nummeir [that, etc.] 1573 Inv. Wardrobe 191.
My lord had knoppis of beddis of his awin of auld and hes a gret nowmir presentlie a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xxi. 54.
We wilbe our few ane nummer Gif commounis to the weir not wend

c. In plur. 1555 Glenartney Doc.
The deir … ar slane in great nowmeris in all this pairtis 1592 Douglas Corr. 36.
Grit numeris of honest … men ar in poynt of present wrak 1603 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 249.
Gryt numeris of his maiestie's liegis

d. With ane and ane certane: A (more or less large) number of persons or things, not precisely reckoned. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2521.
To cheis … Ane certane nummer of ȝoung men 1531–40 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xx.
That thair be ane certane nomer of aduocatis and procuratouris … that salbe callit [etc.] 1580 Hay in Cath. Tr. 34/10.
I am constranead … to propone ane certaine nommer of qwestiones … vnto thame 1583 Wemyss Corr. 100.
Ane nvmer of horsemen 1591 St. A. B. Ct. 18 Sept.
Wpon ane numer off complaintis 1602 Coll. Rebus Alban. 45.
Nowmer 1607 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 293.
The insolencies of a numer of deboschit and disorderit persones 1629 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 305.
Besyd a numer of other inconveniences

e. A (large) company, a host. c1475 Wall. vii. 1104.
He chargyt thaim, with nowmeris mony ane Rycht weill beseyn, in Scotland for to ryd Ib. x. 279.
Rewellyt speris all in a nowmyr round

6. (In) company (of or with others). c1420 Wynt. viii. 6708.
That thai mycht In nowmyre [W. nomere] of thai xxx feicht c1475 Wall. ix. 874.
Off this dispyt amendys I think to haiff, Or de thar for in nowmyr with the laiff

7. In noumer (also const. of the persons or things), in sum, in the aggregate.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xv. 27.
Dyscipilis … That in nomir war lxx & twa a1500 Henr. Fab. 1674 (Bann.).
All creatouris he maid for the behuiffe Off man … In nowmer, wecht and dew proportioun c1475 Wall. x. 701.
Nowmyr 1529 Sutherland Chart. 87.
The forsaydis reuersiounis quhilkis ar in novmyr foure 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 32.
His worthy workis, in nowmer mo than fyue 1533 Boece i. v. 42.
Equale in nowmer to thare folkis slane afore a1578 Pitsc. II. 84/16.
Nommer 1584 Coll. Aberd. & B. 629.
[To pay to] his dochteris beand thre in nvmer … money to the adwansment and support of thair maregis(2) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 155/2, 3.
Europia is les in novmer of peple and Affrica is baith les in place and nowmere of pepill 1533 Boece vi. xv. 218.
This abbay was augmentit baith in nowmer of devote persouns and rentis

b. In contexts denoting uncountability or number lessness. a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 485.
Of feyndis that na nowmir was In a weschale stekit of gles c1515 Asl. MS. I. 164/3.
Blak fowlis without novmere c1500-c1512 Dunb. xiv. 2.
Nobillis owt of nummer

c. Multitude, numerousness. a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 170.
In nummer thay [fools] rys and multeply c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 8/4.
Thocht thai [sins] war infinit of novmere 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 109.
By multitude and nowmyr apon ws set All ȝeid to wraik

8. An arithmetical number; a sum or total of abstract numerical units; a numerical place in a list; a numerical symbol, a ‘figure’. a1400 Leg. S. xii. 3.
The apostil Sancte Mathy that in nowmyr the laste ves Ib. 308, 311.
Bot sa to be in nowmyre ode It wes nocht til thai dwelte with God. For-thy he wald thai vare twelfe ewyn & nocht to be in nowmyre lewyne c1420 Wynt. iv. 1142.
Thai that the cornykill wrate In til nowmyr set the date Ib. 2344.
C, that lettyre capytalle Is set in nowmerys … For ane hundyre Ib. 2529. c1520-c1535 Nisbet I. 17. 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 105.
Ressavit be wecht and nowmer be the said Schir James V^m lxxxx skailye a1538 Abell 1 b.
In the table alphabeit in the heid lyne is the nummir of lewys 1538–9 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 232.
Be the law … of the realme all inquestis … suld be chosin in od novmer c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2888.
For aucht stagis one myle thow tak And thairefter thy nummer mak. So be this compt [etc.] 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 93.
The nomere of the calk bocht by me, v^xx xiiij stane gottin fre [etc.] 1564–5 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 545/2.
The samyn be at lenth writtin and insert thairin and nocht be nummer and figuris 1576 Orkney Oppress. 63.
The comownis payit thair dewities … be ane nummer and calculatioun callit merkis 1592 Acts III. 569/2.
With the nowmer of the leiffis of the buik 1622-6 Bisset II. 182/13.
His … maiestie succeding … in the numer nynt quhilk nynt figoure of numer includis and comprehendis all the rest of the figouris without sipheris

9. ‘Applied to one of the terms of a musical proportion’, proportionate measure or rhythm in music. a1500 Henr. Orph. 238 (Ch. & M.).
This mery musik … Complete and full wyth nowmeris od & even c1550-c1580 Art of Music 94.
Faburdoun is ane melodius kynd of harmony quhilk dois … brek sympill noittis in figuris colorat be numeris trinar and bynar Ib. 5 b.
Nummer

10. Grammatical number. 1531 Vaus (1531) Bb ii.
Infnitiuo modo, on endyt or determyt mode to nowmyr or persone 1531 Id. in Grant Burgh Schools 54.
[The eight characteristics of a pronoun:] qualite, gener, nouwmyr, figure, kynde, persone, cais and declinatione 16.. Rudiments 1 b.
Numer