eight-month-old
UK[ˌeɪt.mʌnθˈəʊld]US[ˌeɪt.mʌnθˈoʊld]
adj
Being eight months in age
n
A person or animal that is eight months old
Morpheme Breakdown
eight
month
old
eight
numeral
month
time unit
old
adjective suffix
Etymology
The compound "eight-month-old" is a modern English construction built from three native Germanic elements. The numeral "eight" traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root oḱtṓw, which is remarkably stable across Indo-European languages, signifying this fundamental number. The word "month" is intrinsically linked to lunar cycles, originating from a Germanic base meaning "moon," reflecting early timekeeping. The suffix "old," denoting age or duration, completes the phrase by attaching the concept of elapsed time to the specified count of months. This transparent compounding logic creates a precise, descriptive term for age specification, commonly used for infants, young animals, or perishable items.
Analysis
Structure: eight (numeral) + month (time unit) + old (adjective suffix)
- eight: From Old English eahta, Proto-Germanic ahtōu, Proto-Indo-European oḱtṓw. Functions as a numeral root specifying quantity.
- month: From Old English mōnaþ, Proto-Germanic mēnōþs, related to mēnô ("moon"). Functions as a noun root specifying a unit of time.
- old: From Old English eald, Proto-Germanic aldaz, meaning "grown, adult, aged." Functions as an adjective-forming element indicating age or duration.
Examples
The eight-month-old baby is starting to crawl.
We adopted an eight-month-old puppy from the shelter.
This cheese is an eight-month-old Gouda with a sharp flavor.