forty-second
UK[ˈfɔːti ˈsɛkənd]US[ˈfɔːrti ˈsɛkənd]
adj
Constituting number forty-two in a sequence; 42nd.
n
The person or thing in the forty-second position.
n
One of forty-two equal parts of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
forty
second
forty
40
second
ordinal suffix
Etymology
The word 'forty-second' is a transparent compound of the cardinal number 'forty' and the ordinal suffix '-second'. 'Forty' itself originates from Old English 'fēowertig', a compound of 'fēower' (four) and 'tig' (a group of ten), reflecting the base-ten counting system. The ordinal element 'second' has a distinct history from the number 'two'; it derives from Latin 'secundus', meaning "following" or "next", which was adopted into English via Old French. Therefore, the literal construction "four-tens following" logically yields the meaning "the one following the forty-first," perfectly illustrating the systematic and hybrid nature of English number formation, combining Germanic roots for the base with a Latinate suffix for sequence.
Analysis
Structure: forty (40) + second (ordinal suffix)
forty: From Old English 'fēowertig', meaning "four tens". Its functional role is the cardinal number base.
second: From Latin 'secundus', meaning "following, next". Its functional role is to form the ordinal number from the cardinal base.
Examples
He finished in forty-second place in the marathon.
This is the forty-second edition of the annual conference.
Only a forty-second of the original estate remained after it was divided among the heirs.