eighty-eight
UK[ˈeɪti ˈeɪt]US[ˈeɪti ˈeɪt]
n
The number equivalent to the product of eight and ten plus eight; 88.
n
(plural) The numbers from 88 to 89, especially with reference to a temperature, a person's age, or a year.
Morpheme Breakdown
eighty
eight
eighty
80
eight
8
Etymology
The word 'eighty-eight' is a transparent compound numeral formed within the Germanic language family, specifically from its English branch. Its first element, 'eighty', itself derives from the Old English 'eahtatig', meaning 'eight tens', built on the root for 'eight'. The second element is the simple cardinal number 'eight'. This additive, decimal-based compounding method for forming numbers above twenty is characteristic of English and other Germanic languages. The term's logic is purely arithmetic, directly signifying the sum of eighty and eight, and its form has remained consistently literal and compositional from its Old English precursors to modern usage.
Analysis
Structure: eighty (80) + eight (8)
eighty: From Old English eahtatig, a compound of eahta (eight) and -tig (group of ten). Germanic origin.
eight: From Old English eahta, from Proto-Germanic ahtōu, from Proto-Indo-European oḱtṓw. A cardinal number.
Examples
She scored eighty-eight points on the test.
My grandfather celebrated his eighty-eighth birthday last week.
The classic piano piece is often referred to as "The Eighty-Eight" because of the number of keys on the instrument.