14th: meaning, definitions and examples
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14th
[ ˈfɔrˈtiːnθ ]
ordinal number
The 14th is the ordinal form of the number fourteen, used to denote the position in a sequence. It can refer to dates, rankings, and other contexts where order is significant.
Examples of usage
- February 14th is celebrated as Valentine's Day.
- He finished in 14th place in the race.
- The 14th century saw significant cultural advancements.
Word origin
The term '14th' derives from the numeral 'fourteen', which traces its roots back to Old English 'fēowertēne', combining the words for 'four' and 'ten'. The usage of ordinal numbers, including '14th', has evolved over centuries, reflecting changes in language and grammar. The suffix '-th' is commonly added to the base number to form the ordinal, a practice also seen in other numbers. Throughout history, ordinal numbers like '14th' have played a significant role in expressing order, hierarchy, and sequence, making them fundamental in both everyday language and academic contexts.