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# numeral

noun (a numeral, numerals)

«numeral» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that stands for a number, like 7 or VII. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#m1)
2. (grammar) A numeral is a word for a number, like «seven» or «seventh». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths lessons numerals are how we write numbers: we use Hindu-Arabic numerals (0–9), and pupils also learn Roman numerals (I, V, X, L, C, D, M) seen on clocks, in book chapters and after kings' names (Henry VIII). Phrases: «Roman numerals», «Arabic numerals», «write in numerals» (use digits, not words).

### Examples

- Write the number in numerals, not words. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x1)
- The clock face has Roman numerals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x2)
- XIV is the Roman numeral for fourteen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x3)
- Our numerals 0 to 9 came to Europe from India through Arab mathematicians. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x4)
- The Romans had no numeral for zero. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x5)
- Henry VIII uses the Roman numeral for eight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x6)
- «12» is a numeral, «twelve» is a word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x7)
- I have changed the Indian mercantile numerals into those of English "back-slang," which make a very good parallel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/#x8)

### Note

Plural «numerals». A numeral is the written symbol; a number is the amount or value itself; a digit is one single symbol from 0 to 9. So «25» is a numeral made of two digits. Roman numerals: I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1000; a smaller one before a bigger one is taken away (IV=4, IX=9).

## In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah, the numerals are the ten numbers (sefirot) and the idea that letters and numbers belong together.

**Interpretation.** Some readers think Sefer Yetzirah treats numbers and letters as two sides of one creating force. Hebrew letters also serve as numerals.

### Examples

- The grouping of the processes of origin into an arrangement, at once alphabetic and numeral, is one only to be found in Semitic authors. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/numeral/#x1)
- It should probably be understood on one level as a reference to the ten digits of the decimal numeral system, though as we shall see, these Sefirot Belimah are imbued with metaphysical significance beyond mere numerals. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/numeral/#x2)
- 32 tMe origin or lettehs and numerals. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/numeral/#x3)

### Note

Plural «numerals». A numeral is the written symbol; a number is the amount or value itself; a digit is one single symbol from 0 to 9. So «25» is a numeral made of two digits. Roman numerals: I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1000; a smaller one before a bigger one is taken away (IV=4, IX=9).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «numeral» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/numeral/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«numeral» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/numeral.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «numeral» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/numeral/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«numeral» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/numeral.html) on Mova free.