fourteenth-century
UK[ˌfɔːˈtiːnθ ˈsen.tʃər.i]US[ˌfɔːrˈtiːnθ ˈsen.tʃər.i]
adj
from or relating to the period of years between 1301 and 1400 ad.
Morpheme Breakdown
fourteenth
century
fourteenth
ordinal number
century
period of 100 years
Etymology
the compound adjective "fourteenth-century" is a modern english construction that precisely dates a period by combining an ordinal number with a standardized historical time unit. the first element, "fourteenth," traces back to the old english compound "fēowertīene," meaning "four and ten," with the "-th" suffix forming the ordinal, a pattern common in germanic languages. the second element, "century," originates from latin "centuria," a military and administrative term for a group of one hundred, which evolved in medieval latin to denote a period of one hundred years. when combined, the term logically and literally denotes something belonging to the specific hundred-year period numbered fourteen in the common era calendar, showcasing english's analytical method for creating precise temporal descriptors.
Analysis
Structure: fourteenth (ordinal number) + century (period of 100 years)
fourteenth: from middle english 'fourtene', from old english 'fēowertīene' (four + ten) + the ordinal suffix '-th' (from old english '-þa', '-þe'). origin is proto-germanic.
century: from latin 'centuria', meaning a group of one hundred, from 'centum' (hundred). entered english via old french 'centurie'.
Examples
this fourteenth-century manuscript contains beautifully illuminated letters.
the castle's architecture is a mix of fourteenth-century foundations and later renovations.
the poet is known for his works depicting fourteenth-century life in london.