fourteen

UK: ˌfɔːˈtiːn | US: ˌfɔːrˈtiːn

Definition

  1. n. the cardinal number equal to 14 (10 + 4).

Structure
four <4>teen <10-based suffix>
Etymology

fourteen = four<4> + teen<10-based suffix>

  • four: From Old English fēower, Proto-Germanic fedwōr, meaning "4."
  • teen: From Old English -tīene (variant of -tēn), used to form numbers 13–19, derived from tīen (ten).

Etymology Origin:
The word fourteen combines four and teen, a suffix denoting numbers in the teens (13–19). This structure reflects the Germanic base-10 counting system, where -teen (from ten) marks the second digit. Similar patterns exist in related languages (e.g., German vierzehn). The logical progression—four + ten—literally means "four (beyond) ten."

Examples

  1. She celebrated her fourteenth birthday last week.

  2. The recipe calls for fourteen ounces of flour.

  3. There are fourteen students in the advanced class.

  4. The train departs at fourteen minutes past the hour.

  5. Chapter fourteen concludes the novel’s main conflict.