English
numb
Numb comes from English nim ‘to take’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *nem-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nem-root as named
- English1500–presentnim‘to take’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1593numbpast participle of nim
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nem-root as named
- English1500–presentnim‘to take’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1593numbpast participle of nim
Earliest quotation: c. 1593, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]: “[…] he did lap me Even in his own…”
The story
The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *nem-
numerous, nomadic, nomad, nim, nome, innumerable, numeric, naam, numeral, enumeration, numeracy, enumerate, luma, numero, numerator, unnumbered, numismatics, 25 more
Today it means
adj Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *nem- / numb