Almost dead, one inspiring start of recovery: it’s on the line

• Line drawn under this word of doubt over muse parting nicer lips
• Source of inspiration right behind miners’ union’s top figure
• Upper figure in a fraction
• The dividend of a fraction
• Part of a fraction

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1540s, from Late Latin numerator "counter, numberer," agent noun from numerat- , past participle stem of numerare "to count, number," from numerus "a number" (see number (n.)).

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. the dividend of a fraction

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Word definitions in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
noun EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS ▪ AD534 used as a divider, providing differential operation on both numerator and denominator Fig. 6. ▪ If the value of the whole expression,, is to remain constant then the value of the numerator must also fall. ▪ Such splitting ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Numerator \Nu"mer*a"tor\, n. [L. numerator: cf. F. num['e]rateur.] One who numbers. (Math.) The term in a fraction which indicates the number of fractional units that are taken. Note: In a vulgar fraction the numerator is written above a line; thus, ...