Fourscore Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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fourscore
[ˈfɔːrˌskɔːr ]
Definition
historical context
Fourscore is an archaic term that refers to the number eighty. It originates from the Old English word 'score', which means twenty, therefore 'fourscore' is derived from multiplying four by twenty. The term is often used in historical, literary, or rhetorical contexts, notably featured in speeches and writings. It provides a poetic and formal way to represent the number eighty, evoking a sense of antiquity or grandiosity.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Fourscore years ago.
- He was fourscore and ten.
- The army numbered fourscore men.
Translations
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Origin of 'fourscore'
The word 'fourscore' dates back to Old English and is a compound of two elements: 'four' and 'score', where 'score' means twenty. This usage has its roots in a time when counting and numbering often involved the use of 'score' as a base unit, primarily for convenience in dealing with larger numbers. Notably, 'fourscore' was famously employed by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, 'Four score and seven years ago...', which has contributed to its historical resonance and recognition in the English language. While the term is now considered archaic and rarely used in everyday conversation, it persists in literary and rhetorical contexts as a way to invoke a sense of time or to bestow gravity upon discussions of history and age. The evolution of this term reflects broader changes in language use, where numerical expressions have become more simplified and less poetic.