fifty-fourth
UK[ˌfɪfti ˈfɔːθ]US[ˌfɪfti ˈfɔːrθ]
adj
Constituting number fifty-four in a sequence; 54th.
n
The person or thing in the fifty-fourth position.
n
One of fifty-four equal parts of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
fifty
fourth
fifty
50
fourth
ordinal form of 4
Etymology
The word "fifty-fourth" is a transparent compound formed within English by combining the cardinal number "fifty" with the ordinal suffix "-fourth." "Fifty" itself originates from the Old English "fīftig," meaning "five tens," built from the Proto-Germanic root fimf tigiwiz. "Fourth" derives from Old English "fēorþa," the ordinal form of "fēower" (four), tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root kʷetwóres. The logic of the compound is purely arithmetic, designating the position following the fifty-third in a sequence. This pattern of combining a tens-based cardinal with a unit-based ordinal is standard in the English numbering system for forming ordinal numbers above twentieth.
Analysis
Structure: fifty (50) + fourth (ordinal form of 4)
- fifty: From Old English fīftig, a compound of fīf (five) and -tig (a group of ten). Its functional role is as a cardinal number.
- fourth: From Old English fēorþa, fēowerþa, the ordinal form of fēower (four). Its functional role is as an ordinal number suffix.
Examples
He celebrated his fifty-fourth birthday with a quiet family dinner.
The amendment was the fifty-fourth to be added to the state constitution.
She finished in fifty-fourth place in the marathon, a respectable result given the size of the field.