nineteenth
UK[ˌnaɪnˈtiːnθ]US[ˌnaɪnˈtiːnθ]
adj
Constituting number nineteen in a sequence; 19th.
n
Each of nineteen equal parts into which something is or may be divided.
Morpheme Breakdown
nine
teen
th
nine
9
teen
10
th
ordinal suffix
Etymology
The word "nineteenth" is a transparent ordinal number construction built upon the cardinal "nineteen." Its first element, "nine," descends from the Proto-Germanic newun, itself from the Proto-Indo-European root h₁néwn̥. The "-teen" suffix, derived from Old English tīen (ten), signifies the addition of ten to the base number, a pattern common to the Germanic languages. The final "-th" is the standard ordinal suffix in English, originating from the Old English -tha, which marks the word's function as specifying position in a series. Thus, the word's literal morphemic logic is "the ordinal form of nine-and-ten."
Analysis
Structure: nine (9) + teen (10) + th (ordinal suffix)
- nine: From Old English nigon, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch negen and German neun. Functions as the cardinal number base.
- teen: From Old English -tēne, a suffix forming the numbers 13–19, from tīen (ten). Functions as a compounding element meaning "ten more than".
- th: From Old English -tha, -the, an ordinal suffix used to form ordinal numbers from cardinal numbers.
Examples
We are studying the nineteenth century in history class.
He finished in nineteenth place in the marathon.
Approximately a nineteenth of the total budget was allocated to research.