forty-two

UK: ˈfɔːti tuː | US: ˈfɔːrti tuː

Definition

  1. n. the cardinal number equal to 42, represented in numerals as "42"

Structure
forty <four tens>two <the number 2>
Etymology

The word "forty-two" is a compound of "forty" (derived from Old English "fēowertig," meaning "four tens") and "two" (from Old English "twā," meaning the numeral 2). The structure reflects the base-10 counting system, where "forty" signifies 4 × 10, and "two" adds the units. Historically, "forty" lost its "u" in Middle English (unlike "four"), likely due to phonetic simplification. The compound form has remained stable in Modern English.

Examples

  1. She scored forty-two points in the basketball game.

  2. The answer to the ultimate question is forty-two, according to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

  3. The temperature reached forty-two degrees Celsius yesterday.

  4. There are forty-two students in my class this semester.

  5. The book has forty-two chapters, each covering a different topic.