eight
UK[eɪt]US[eɪt]
cardinal number
The number equivalent to the sum of seven and one; one more than seven.
Etymology
The word "eight" originates from the Old English "eahta," which is directly descended from the Proto-Germanic "ahtōu." This Germanic root can be traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root "oḱtṓw," meaning "eight." This ancient numeral is remarkably stable across many Indo-European languages, evident in Latin "octo," Greek "oktō," and Sanskrit "aṣṭau." The modern English form "eight" represents a straightforward phonetic and orthographic evolution from its Old English predecessor, retaining its core numerical meaning for millennia.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, derived from a single, indivisible root.
Examples
She has eight siblings.
The meeting starts at eight o'clock.
The recipe requires eight ounces of flour.