mid-40
UK[ˌmɪd ˈfɔːti z]US[ˌmɪd ˈfɔːrti z]
n
The period of life or the years of a century between approximately 44 and 46 years of age.
Morpheme Breakdown
mid
40s
mid
middle
40s
the decade of the forties
Etymology
The term is a modern English compound formed by combining the adjective 'mid', a direct descendant from the Proto-Germanic midja- and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European medhyo- meaning "middle", with the numerical designation '40s'. This construction follows a straightforward and transparent pattern in English for specifying the central portion of any decade, whether in terms of age or calendar years. The logic is purely positional, using 'mid' to pinpoint the approximate center (years 44-46) of the ten-year span defined by 'the forties'. It exemplifies the analytical and compounding nature of English, creating precise temporal descriptors from simple, existing lexical elements.
Analysis
Structure: mid (middle) + 40s (the decade of the forties)
- mid: From Old English 'midd', meaning "middle". It functions as a combining form to indicate the central point or period of something.
- 40s: A numeral ('40') combined with the plural suffix 's', denoting the decade from the 40th to the 49th year. It functions as the specific range being modified.
Examples
She began her most ambitious project in her mid-40s.
The economic boom occurred in the mid-40s of the last century.
He decided to change careers when he reached his mid-40s.