Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NU'MER-AL, a. [Fr.; L. numeralis.]

1. Pertaining to number; consisting of number. The dependence of a long train of numeral progressions. Locke.
2. Expressing number; representing number; standing as a substitute for figures; as, numeral letters; as X for 10; L for fifty; C for 100; D for 500; M for 1000.
3. Expressing numbers; as, numeral characters. The figures we now use to express numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. They are said to be of Arabian origin; but the Arabians might have received them from India. This is a controverted question.