thirty-first
thirty-first
UK[ˈθɜːti ˈfɜːst]US[ˈθɜːrt̬i ˈfɜːrst]
adj
Constituting number thirty-one in a sequence; 31st.
n
The person or thing in the thirty-first position.
n
One of thirty-one equal parts of something.
Morpheme Breakdown
thirty
first
thirty
first
Etymology
The word 'thirty-first' is a transparent compound formed within English, combining the cardinal number 'thirty' with the ordinal suffix 'first'. 'Thirty' itself originates from the Old English 'þrītig', meaning "three tens," a common Germanic pattern for constructing decades. 'First' derives from the Old English superlative 'fyrst', meaning "foremost," which evolved from the Proto-Germanic concept of being before all others. Thus, 'thirty-first' logically follows the Germanic ordinal system, literally meaning "the foremost (one) in the group of three tens," designating position in a sequence after the thirtieth item.
Analysis
Structure: thirty + first
- thirty: From Old English 'þrītig', a compound of 'þrīe' (three) and '-tig' (group of ten). A Germanic cardinal number.
- first: From Old English 'fyrst', superlative form of 'fore' (before). A Germanic ordinal number suffix.
Examples
Her thirty-first birthday was a quiet celebration with close family.
He finished in thirty-first place in the marathon, a respectable result given the size of the field.
Approximately a thirty-first of the total revenue was allocated to research and development.