four-hundred
UK[ˌfɔːˈhʌn.drəd]US[ˌfɔːrˈhʌn.drəd]
adj
Being one hundred times four; the number 400.
n
The number 400.
Morpheme Breakdown
four
hundred
four
4
hundred
100
Etymology
The compound "four-hundred" is a transparent numerical construction in English, directly combining the cardinal number "four" with the base unit "hundred." Its components trace back to ancient roots: "four" originates from Proto-Indo-European kʷetwóres, which evolved into the Proto-Germanic fedwōr and Old English fēower. "Hundred" derives from the Proto-Germanic hundaradą, a compound meaning "count of a hundred," where the first element relates to the decimal base and the second to counting. The modern term retains the literal, additive meaning of its morphemes, representing a specific quantity (4 x 100) with no figurative evolution, showcasing the systematic nature of English number formation.
Analysis
Structure: four (4) + hundred (100)
- four: From Old English fēower, of Proto-Germanic origin; related to Latin quattuor and Greek tessares. Functions as the cardinal number.
- hundred: From Old English hund, of Proto-Germanic origin; the second element -red is from a Germanic root meaning "reckoning, count". Functions as the base unit of counting.
Examples
The antique vase was sold at auction for four-hundred pounds.
The stadium has a seating capacity of four-hundred.
He scored four-hundred points in the final round of the competition.