four-tenths
UK[ˌfɔː ˈtɛnθs]US[ˌfɔr ˈtɛnθs]
n
A fraction representing four parts out of ten equal parts; 4/10 or 0.4.
Morpheme Breakdown
four
tenths
four
number
tenths
ordinal fraction
Etymology
The compound "four-tenths" is a transparent numerical construction in English, directly combining a cardinal number with an ordinal fraction. "Four" originates from Proto-Germanic fedwōr, tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root kʷetwóres, a fundamental numeral. "Tenth" derives from "ten," from Proto-Germanic tehun, from PIE déḱm̥t, combined with the ordinal suffix "-th" used to form fractional nouns. The logic of the word is purely mathematical, literally meaning "four of the tenth parts," a modern English formation following the standard pattern for expressing decimal fractions.
Analysis
Structure: four (number) + tenths (ordinal fraction)
- four: From Old English fēower, meaning the number 4. A cardinal number.
- tenths: From Old English tēoþa (tenth), the ordinal form of tien (ten), with the plural suffix '-s' indicating multiple fractional units.
Examples
Approximately four-tenths of the survey participants agreed with the statement.
The recipe calls for four-tenths of a cup of sugar.
The land was divided, with the eldest son receiving four-tenths of the estate.