five-ten
UK[ˌfaɪv ˈten]US[ˌfaɪv ˈten]
n
A shoe size equal to 10.5, especially in women's footwear.
n
(By extension) A size that is intermediate between two standard sizes.
Morpheme Breakdown
five
ten
five
number
ten
number
Etymology
The term "five-ten" is a modern compound noun formed by the straightforward combination of the English numerals "five" and "ten." It follows a common pattern in sizing nomenclature where a hyphen links two adjacent standard sizes to denote an intermediate measurement. The logic is purely arithmetic and referential, with "five" and "ten" retaining their core numerical meanings to specify a point halfway between the whole sizes 5 and 10, or more specifically, representing the decimal 10.5. This construction bypasses ancient etymological evolution, instead utilizing existing, stable English number words in a transparent, formulaic manner to fulfill a precise commercial and descriptive need in retail, particularly for footwear.
Analysis
Structure: five (number) + ten (number)
- five: From Old English 'fīf', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'vijf' and German 'fünf', from an Indo-European root shared by Latin 'quinque' and Greek 'pente'. Functions as the numeral 5.
- ten: From Old English 'tēn', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'tien' and German 'zehn', from an Indo-European root shared by Latin 'decem' and Greek 'deka'. Functions as the numeral 10.
Examples
I usually wear a size ten, but this style runs small, so I need a five-ten.
The store didn't have her exact size, so she tried the five-ten as a compromise.
In some sizing systems, a five-ten is equivalent to a men's size 10.5.