'Numeral' shares its PIE root *nem- with 'nemesis' and 'economy' — number as fair allotment.
A figure, symbol, or group of figures or symbols denoting a number; a word expressing a number.
From Late Latin numerāle (pertaining to a number), adjective from numerus (number, quantity, arrangement, musical measure, literary metre). Numerus connects to Proto-Indo-European *nem- (to assign, to allot, to distribute proportionally). This root is most visible in Greek nemein (to distribute, to manage, to pasture) and its derivatives: nemesis (the goddess of rightful distribution of fortune), nomos (law, custom — that which is allotted), and economy (from oikos + nomos, management of the household). The semantic bridge from distributing to numbering is the notion of assigning a share to each item
The PIE root *nem- (to assign, to allot) produced two surprisingly different word families in English. Through Latin 'numerus' (number), it gave us 'numeral,' 'number,' 'numerous,' and 'enumerate.' Through Greek 'némein' (to distribute, to manage), it gave us 'nemesis' (one who distributes what is due — divine retribution), 'nomad' (one who wanders to allotted pastures), and 'economy' (household management). Number and nemesis are
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