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Fortieth: meaning, definitions and examples

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fortieth

 

[ ˈfɔːrtiəθ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

ordinal number

The word 'fortieth' is the ordinal form of the number forty, denoting the position or rank of something in a sequence. It is commonly used to indicate the numerical position in a series, particularly when counting or listing items. The term can also refer to anniversaries or events that celebrate the 40th occurrence of something. It is an important term in both mathematical contexts and in everyday language.

Examples of usage

  • She celebrated her fortieth birthday with a big party.
  • The fortieth episode of the series aired last night.
  • This year marks the fortieth anniversary of our company.
  • He ranked in the fortieth place in the race.

Translations

Translations of the word "fortieth" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quadragésimo

🇮🇳 चालीसवाँ

🇩🇪 vierzigste

🇮🇩 keempat puluh

🇺🇦 сороковий

🇵🇱 czterdziesty

🇯🇵 四十番目の

🇫🇷 quarantième

🇪🇸 cuadragésimo

🇹🇷 kırkıncı

🇰🇷 사십 번째의

🇸🇦 الأربعون

🇨🇿 čtyřicátý

🇸🇰 štyridsiaty

🇨🇳 第四十

🇸🇮 štirideseti

🇮🇸 fjörutíu

🇰🇿 қырқыншы

🇬🇪 ორმოცდამეათე

🇦🇿 qırxıncı

🇲🇽 cuadragésimo

Word origin

The term 'fortieth' originates from the Old English word 'feorða', meaning 'fourth'. The evolution of the English numerals has seen significant transformations over centuries, making way for more complex ordinal forms. The prefix 'forty' in 'fortieth' is derived from the same Old English roots, reflecting the quantity of four times ten. The suffix 'th' is a common indicator of order, prevalent in numbers such as fourth, fifth, and tenth. In Middle English, the term evolved further into 'forti', eventually forming the modern-day 'fortieth'. This transition marks a typical evolution in English numerals where cardinal numbers often transition into their ordinal counterparts.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,747, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.