forty-third
UK[ˈfɔːti θɜːd]US[ˈfɔːrti θɜːrd]
adj
constituting number forty-three in a sequence; 43rd.
n
the person or thing in the forty-third position.
n
one of forty-three equal parts of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
forty
third
forty
40
third
ordinal for 3
Etymology
the word "forty-third" is a modern english compound ordinal number, formed by combining the cardinal number "forty" with the ordinal suffix "third". "forty" itself originates from old english "feowertig", a compound of "feower" (four) and "tig" (group of ten), reflecting the base-ten counting system. "third" derives from old english "þridda", which has proto-germanic origins and is related to the number three. the logic of the construction follows the standard english pattern for ordinals above twenty, where the cardinal decade name is directly modified by the ordinal unit, creating a clear and systematic numerical label.
Analysis
Structure: forty (40) + third (ordinal for 3)
forty: from old english "feowertig", meaning "four tens". functional role: cardinal number base.
third: from old english "þridda", meaning "ordinal number following second". functional role: ordinal suffix.
Examples
he celebrated his forty-third birthday with a quiet dinner.
the amendment was the forty-third to be ratified.
she inherited a forty-third share of the estate.