What does “numbers” mean here?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
I see this paragraph in The life of Samuel Johnson
About this time he made one other effort to emancipate himself from the drudgery of authourship. He applied to Dr. Adams, to consult Dr. Smalbroke of the Commons, whether a person might be permitted to practice as an advocate there, without a doctor's degree in Civil Law. 'I am (said he) a total stranger to these studies; but whatever is a profession, and maintains numbers, must be within the reach of common abilities, and some degree of industry.' Dr. Adams was much pleased with Johnson's design to employ his talents in that manner, being confident he would have attained to great eminence.
I am not certain of the meaning of numbers in this context. Does it mean quantity (1, 2, 3,...) or instruction? Whatever, I do not understand what Johnson means in this sentence. Can you explain for me?
meaning british-english
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
add a comment |
I see this paragraph in The life of Samuel Johnson
About this time he made one other effort to emancipate himself from the drudgery of authourship. He applied to Dr. Adams, to consult Dr. Smalbroke of the Commons, whether a person might be permitted to practice as an advocate there, without a doctor's degree in Civil Law. 'I am (said he) a total stranger to these studies; but whatever is a profession, and maintains numbers, must be within the reach of common abilities, and some degree of industry.' Dr. Adams was much pleased with Johnson's design to employ his talents in that manner, being confident he would have attained to great eminence.
I am not certain of the meaning of numbers in this context. Does it mean quantity (1, 2, 3,...) or instruction? Whatever, I do not understand what Johnson means in this sentence. Can you explain for me?
meaning british-english
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
1
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31
add a comment |
I see this paragraph in The life of Samuel Johnson
About this time he made one other effort to emancipate himself from the drudgery of authourship. He applied to Dr. Adams, to consult Dr. Smalbroke of the Commons, whether a person might be permitted to practice as an advocate there, without a doctor's degree in Civil Law. 'I am (said he) a total stranger to these studies; but whatever is a profession, and maintains numbers, must be within the reach of common abilities, and some degree of industry.' Dr. Adams was much pleased with Johnson's design to employ his talents in that manner, being confident he would have attained to great eminence.
I am not certain of the meaning of numbers in this context. Does it mean quantity (1, 2, 3,...) or instruction? Whatever, I do not understand what Johnson means in this sentence. Can you explain for me?
meaning british-english
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
I see this paragraph in The life of Samuel Johnson
About this time he made one other effort to emancipate himself from the drudgery of authourship. He applied to Dr. Adams, to consult Dr. Smalbroke of the Commons, whether a person might be permitted to practice as an advocate there, without a doctor's degree in Civil Law. 'I am (said he) a total stranger to these studies; but whatever is a profession, and maintains numbers, must be within the reach of common abilities, and some degree of industry.' Dr. Adams was much pleased with Johnson's design to employ his talents in that manner, being confident he would have attained to great eminence.
I am not certain of the meaning of numbers in this context. Does it mean quantity (1, 2, 3,...) or instruction? Whatever, I do not understand what Johnson means in this sentence. Can you explain for me?
meaning british-english
meaning british-english
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
edited May 22 at 10:24
Andrew Leach♦
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
81.7k8 gold badges159 silver badges262 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
asked May 22 at 9:33
nhandoanh08nhandoanh08
474 bronze badges
474 bronze badges
1
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31
add a comment |
1
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31
1
1
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
"Whatever is a profession" seems to be used in the sense of "any activity that comprises a profession".
"...and maintains numbers" seems to be used in the sense of "and (any profession) which is capable of establishing and reproducing an appreciable number of practising members".
What the author is asserting is his view that any profession is within the grasp of the person with average ability and a measure of hard work.
So "numbers" in this context means "an appreciable quantity of practising members".
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499318%2fwhat-does-numbers-mean-here%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
"Whatever is a profession" seems to be used in the sense of "any activity that comprises a profession".
"...and maintains numbers" seems to be used in the sense of "and (any profession) which is capable of establishing and reproducing an appreciable number of practising members".
What the author is asserting is his view that any profession is within the grasp of the person with average ability and a measure of hard work.
So "numbers" in this context means "an appreciable quantity of practising members".
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
add a comment |
"Whatever is a profession" seems to be used in the sense of "any activity that comprises a profession".
"...and maintains numbers" seems to be used in the sense of "and (any profession) which is capable of establishing and reproducing an appreciable number of practising members".
What the author is asserting is his view that any profession is within the grasp of the person with average ability and a measure of hard work.
So "numbers" in this context means "an appreciable quantity of practising members".
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
add a comment |
"Whatever is a profession" seems to be used in the sense of "any activity that comprises a profession".
"...and maintains numbers" seems to be used in the sense of "and (any profession) which is capable of establishing and reproducing an appreciable number of practising members".
What the author is asserting is his view that any profession is within the grasp of the person with average ability and a measure of hard work.
So "numbers" in this context means "an appreciable quantity of practising members".
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
"Whatever is a profession" seems to be used in the sense of "any activity that comprises a profession".
"...and maintains numbers" seems to be used in the sense of "and (any profession) which is capable of establishing and reproducing an appreciable number of practising members".
What the author is asserting is his view that any profession is within the grasp of the person with average ability and a measure of hard work.
So "numbers" in this context means "an appreciable quantity of practising members".
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
answered May 22 at 11:53
SteveSteve
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
5021 silver badge6 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499318%2fwhat-does-numbers-mean-here%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
What did a dictionary tell you? Noun definition number 10a from dictionary.com is the meaning you want "a considerable amount or quantity". In your context it means "a considerable amount of people". To paraphrase your quote: "If a profession has a significant number of people who practise it, it must be possible for a normal person to do that job assuming they put enough work in to study it"
– AndyT
May 22 at 10:31