fortieth etymology

Etymology:

The word "fortieth" derives from two distinct sources:

  • Proto-Germanic: fertiz
  • Latin: quadragesimus

Meaning:

  • A cardinal number representing the quantity 40.
  • An ordinal number indicating the 40th position in a sequence.

Origin:

Proto-Germanic fertiz:

  • The Proto-Germanic word fertiz originally meant "four."
  • Over time, it evolved to mean "four times ten" and eventually became the word for "forty."

Latin quadragesimus:

  • The Latin word quadragesimus is derived from the root quadraginta, which means "forty."
  • It was used to indicate the 40th day after a specific event, typically a religious festival or a period of fasting.

Combination:

The modern English word "fortieth" combines the Proto-Germanic and Latin roots. The Germanic origin provides the base meaning of "four," while the Latin suffix "-ies" denotes the ordinal number.

Additional Notes:

  • The "t" in "fortieth" is silent, a remnant of its Proto-Germanic origin.
  • The word "forty" is also used in measurements, such as "forty acres" or "forty days and forty nights."

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