enumerate

/ɪˈnuməˌreɪt/

Other forms: enumerated; enumerates; enumerating

To enumerate is to list or count off one by one. Before you ask for a raise, you'd better be able to enumerate all the reasons why you deserve more money.

Tally, total, add up, compute — however you put it, enumerate is basically just another way to say "count." As in, "How do I love thee? Let me enumerate the ways." This verb came about in the 1610’s as a variation on the Latin enumerates, which means “to reckon up or count over.” To quote Paul Valery, the French critic, essayist, and poet, “Science is feasible when the variables are few and can be enumerated; when their combinations are distinct and clear."

Definitions of enumerate

1. verb

   specify individually
   “She enumerated the many obstacles she had encountered”

   synonyms: itemise, itemize, recite

   types:

   list, name

   give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

   type of:

   identify, name

   give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property
2. verb

   determine the number or amount of
   synonyms: count, number, numerate

   types:

   recount

   count again

   miscount

   count wrongly

   census

   conduct a census

   add, add together, add up, sum, sum up, summate, tally, tot, tot up, total, tote up

   determine the sum of

   type of:

   ascertain, determine, find, find out

   establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study