unnumerableadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈnjuːm(ə)rəbl/, U.S. /ˌənˈn(j)um(ə)rəbəl/ Incapable of being numbered; innumerable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [adjective] > innumerable or unreckonable
untellinga1300
unnumberablea1382
unnumerable?a1425
innumberable1434
intellable1537
numberless1573
uncountable1582
innumeral1585
countless1593
incomputable1606
sumlessa1616
unreckonable1647
accountless?1650
unsummable1667
uncomputable1678
unaccountablea1699
unenumerated1799
unenumerable1895
?a1425 (a1400) Brut (Corpus Cambr.) 316 Men founden vnnumerable multitudes of hem [sc. sparows] dede in feldes.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 485 He was deseyvid be a fend þat promysid hym to gyff hym..ane vnnumerable porcion of gude.
1536 in R. Dyboski Songs, Carols, & Other Misc. Poems (1908) 162 At þe Towr..þer was shott vnnumerable many gonnes.
1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) viii. f. 98v So of winding wayes Vnnumerable Dædalus within his worke convayes.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Innombrable, innumerable, vnnumerable.
1637 W. Prynne Quench-coale 94 Besides an unnumerable sort of other like baggage, which hath heen weeded now of late out of Christes Religion, and now restored home to the owners thereof.
1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) iii. 70 The windows, through which you see an unnumerable quantity of ships and boats continually passing.
1778 G. White Jrnl. 14 June (1970) xi. 152 White butter-flies unnumerable.
1852 Daily News 17 Dec. 5/4 The unnumerable public meetings just held all over the country.
1872 Congregationalist (Boston, Mass.) 24 May 2/4 The unnumerable multitude redeemed from the earth before they were transgressors of His known will.
1956 J. Kerouac Let. 26 Dec. in Sel. Lett. 1940–56 (1995) 595 Unnumerable hordes of not-yet-born writers in the womb of time'll come and raise the mountain higher yet, a pile of pure shit.
2009 Lat. Amer. Perspectives 36 64 The Federación de Mujeres Cubanas..offers unnumerable genuine examples of the progress of women and the leading role they have played.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [noun] > capability of calculation > incapability
unnumerableness1565
innumerableness1573
innumerability1607
uncountability1952
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Innumerabilitas, vnnumerablenesse: passyng all number.
unˈnumerably adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > enumeration, reckoning, or calculation > [adverb] > to an innumerable extent
unnumerably1440
innumberablyc1450
innumerably1574
uncountably1599
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adverb] > to an innumerable extent
unnumerably1440
innumerably1574
sans nombre1655
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 366 Onnumerably, innumerabiliter.
a1525 (a1500) Sc. Troy Bk. (Douce) l. 3036 in C. Horstmann Barbour's Legendensammlung (1882) II. 302 He gaif hime till At his passage richt largely Richt riche giftis and vnnomerabily.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Innumerablement, innumerably, vnnumerably.
1939 Ice & Refrigeration Feb. 117/1 Prophets have arisen unnumerably over the years but almost without exception they have proven without glory when the season closed.
1991 J. F. Gubrium Mosaic of Care ii. 47 When we take types and their stories into account, the community is unnumerably distinct experiences.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.?a1425