forty English · revision 6747

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 950|origins=gem-pro *fedwōr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfoɹti/; /ˈfɔːti/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English fourty, [[inh|ang|fēowertiġ]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|ang|fēower|t=four]] and [[m|ang|-tiġ|t=group of ten]] (see [[four]], [[-ty]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Cognates are Old Saxon [[m|osx|fiwartig]], Dutch [[m|nl|veertig]], German [[m|de|vierzig]], Old Norse fjórir tigir and Gothic [[m|got|𐍆𐌹𐌳𐍅𐍉𐍂 𐍄𐌹𐌲𐌾𐌿𐍃|tr=fidwōr tigjus]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The number forty: about 950 in the OED, about 750 in Genesis A in Barnhart;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) first in Middle English spelling in 1124.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Used loosely for a large number from 1607.^(OED 1989) ''Forty winks'', a short nap, and forty pence as a customary wager are recorded;^(OED 1989) ''the forties'', the years from 40 to 49, is from 1732.^(OED 1989) In the 14th century forty as a round number, rather than an exact one, was common, as in the forty days of Lent and Noah's flood.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – the number.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – a large number.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1732 – the forties.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Number===

+ # The [[cardinal number]] equal to four times [[ten]] (40).^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(forties)'' The numbers, years or ages from 40 to 49.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fortieth]]

+ * [[fortyish]]

+ * [[fortypenny]]

+ * [[back forty]]

+ * [[forty winks]]

+ * [[roaring forties]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[four]]

+ * [[-ty]]

+ * [[quarantine]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}