Teenth

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

  1. A suffix used to form ordinal numbers from thirteen to nineteen indicating position or rank within a sequence
  2. A linguistic element added to cardinal numbers to denote their order between the numbers thirteen and nineteen
  3. A morphological ending attached to numerals to express their sequence in the series from thirteen through nineteen

Etymology: The suffix "-teenth" traces its origins to the Old English "-teon," which relates to the number ten. It functions as a numeral marker, specifically indicating the ordinal numbers from thirteenth through nineteenth. The root of this element lies in the Old English words for these numbers, such as "þrēotīene" for thirteen, combining the base number with the suffix "-tīene," which evolved into the modern "-teenth." This suffix emerged as a way to express the "teens" in English, which are the numbers between ten and twenty. Unlike the simple ordinal forms like "first" or "second," these numbers required a distinct morphological pattern to indicate their position beyond the tenth. The "-teenth" ending was adopted to systematically mark these ordinals, appearing consistently in English by the late Middle Ages. In usage, the suffix attaches to the cardinal base number—three, four, five, and so on—to form thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, etc. This morphological pattern differs from the typical ordinal suffix "-th" by incorporating a "teen" element, which itself is derived from the word "ten," highlighting the numbers' relationship to the base of ten in the counting system. The linguistic development of this suffix reflects the structure of English numerals, where the "teen" numbers serve as a bridge between single digits and the multiples of ten. Its persistence into modern English shows the language's tendency to form consistent patterns for number formation, even when these patterns have roots going back over a thousand years.

Synonyms: teen, adolescent, youngster, juvenile, youth

Antonyms: adult, elder, senior, grownup, mature