numerology

[noo-muh-rol-uh-jee, nyoo-]

noun

the study of numbers, as the figures designating the year of one's birth, to determine their supposed influence on one's life, future, etc.

Origin of numerology

1910–15; < Latin numer(us) number + -o- + -logy

Related formsnu·mer·o·log·i·cal

[noo-mer-uh-loj-i-kuh l, nyoo-] /ˌnu mər əˈlɒdʒ ɪ kəl, ˌnyu-/, adjectivenu·mer·ol·o·gist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for numerology

Contemporary Examples of numerology

His company names all ended in an X—EBX, OGX, MMX—because in numerology, X stands for the multiplication of wealth.
The Zillionaires Who Lost Everything
Tom Sykes
October 26, 2014
(For devotees of numerology the weakest seasons seem to come every third year–3, 6, 9).
Is This the Death of American Idol?
Richard Rushfield
May 27, 2010

Historical Examples of numerology

You meet quite a few people in the theater who are bats on numerology, they use it to pick stage-names.
No Great Magic
Fritz Reuter Leiber
In the study of Numerology we find there are seven principal numbers that indicate what influences prevail in your life.
Manual of the Enumeration
C. J. Coffman

British Dictionary definitions for numerology

numerology

noun

the study of numbers, such as the figures in a birth date, and of their supposed influence on human affairs

Derived Formsnumerological (ˌnjuːmərəˈlɒdʒɪkəl), adjectivenumerologist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for numerology

1911, "study of the occult meaning of numbers," a hybrid from Latin numerus "a number" (see number (n.)) + Greek -logia (see -logy). A correct formation would be arithmology, from Greek arithmos "number." Related: Numerological; numerologist.