Octogenary

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ɑkˈtɑ.d͡ʒəˌnɛr.i/

Definitions

1. Relating to or consisting of people who are in their eighth decade of life or the span of years between 80 and 89
2. Describing something that pertains to individuals aged 80 to 89 or the characteristics of that age group
3. Referring to the period of life ranging from 80 to 89 years old, often noting attributes associated with this age segment

Etymology: "Octogenary" is the adjective-and-noun sibling of "octogenarian," and it comes from the Latin "octōgēnārius," meaning "containing eighty." That Latin word was built from "octōgēnus," "eighty each," which in turn grew out of "octōgintā," the Latin for "eighty," literally "eight tens." The "-ārius" ending is the same suffix that gives English words like "millenary" and "dignitary," marking something that belongs to or relates to a given quantity or group. English took the word either straight from Latin or through the French "octogénaire," and the two routes produced the same meaning. The noun form, referring to a person in their eighties, and the adjective, describing things tied to that age, both developed from the Latin base. Because the root is a plain count of tens, the word stays transparent: anyone who knows that "octo" means eight can see the eighty hiding inside it.

Synonyms: octogenarian