forty-fifth
UK[ˈfɔːti ˈfɪfθ]US[ˈfɔːrti ˈfɪfθ]
adj
Constituting number forty-five in a sequence; 45th.
n
The person or thing that is number forty-five in a sequence.
n
One of forty-five equal parts of something; 1/45.
Morpheme Breakdown
forty
fifth
forty
40
fifth
5th
Etymology
The word "forty-fifth" is a transparent compound formed by combining the cardinal number "forty" with the ordinal suffix "fifth". "Forty" itself originates from Old English féowertig, a compound of féower (four) and tig (a group of ten), reflecting the base-ten counting system. "Fifth" derives from Old English fīfta, from the Proto-Germanic fimftô, related to the cardinal number fimf (five). The logic of the construction is purely arithmetic, following the standard English pattern for forming ordinal numbers beyond twentieth by adding the appropriate ordinal suffix to the cardinal base.
Analysis
Structure: forty (40) + fifth (5th)
- forty: From Old English féowertig, meaning "four tens". Its functional role is as a cardinal number.
- fifth: From Old English fīfta, meaning "the ordinal number corresponding to five". Its functional role is as an ordinal suffix.
Examples
He celebrated his forty-fifth birthday with a quiet dinner.
The amendment is the forty-fifth to the constitution.
She inherited a forty-fifth of the total estate.