fortnight etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: "fortenight," from Old English "feowertyne niht"
  • "feower" = four
  • "tyne" = ten

Meaning:

A period of two weeks or 14 days.

Origin:

The term "fortnight" originated in Old English as a reference to the period between the full moon and the new moon, which is approximately 14 days. It was originally used as a unit of time based on the moon's phases, similar to the terms "week" and "month."

Over time, the term's usage shifted away from its lunar origins and became more widely applied to a two-week period for general purposes. It remains a common term used in many English-speaking countries, although it is less frequent in American English, where "two weeks" is typically used instead.

Examples of usage:

  • "The camp will only be open for a fortnight, so be sure to register early."
  • "I'm going on a vacation to the beach for the next fortnight."
  • "The project is due in a fortnight, so we need to work diligently."

fortnight relate terms

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