sixty-two
UK[ˈsɪksti ˈtuː]US[ˈsɪksti ˈtuː]
n
The number equivalent to the product of six and ten; two more than sixty; 62.
Morpheme Breakdown
sixty
two
sixty
number
two
number
Etymology
The compound numeral "sixty-two" follows the Germanic pattern of forming numbers above twenty by stating the tens unit followed by the single digit. "Sixty" itself is a fossilized compound from Old English, where the root for "six" was combined with a suffix denoting a group of ten. "Two" is a fundamental numeral with ancient Indo-European roots. The logic of the compound is purely additive, representing the sum of sixty and two, a transparent method for constructing higher numbers that has been stable in English for over a millennium.
Analysis
Structure: sixty (number) + two (number)
- sixty: From Old English sixtig, a compound of six (from Proto-Germanic sehs, from Proto-Indo-European swéḱs) + the suffix -tig (group of ten, from Proto-Germanic tigiwiz, from PIE déḱm̥t). It functions as the base numeral for six tens.
- two: From Old English twā (feminine and neuter), from Proto-Germanic twai, from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁. It functions as the cardinal number following one.
Examples
She scored sixty-two points in the basketball game.
The recipe requires sixty-two grams of sugar.
He retired at the age of sixty-two.