thirteen
UK: ˌθɜːˈtiːn | US: ˌθɜːrˈtiːn
n. the cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and three; 13
thirteen = thir<three> + teen<ten>
- thir<three>: Derived from Old English þrēo (three), with the "th" sound preserved. The "ir" spelling evolved from Middle English thre.
- teen<ten>: From Old English tīen (ten), later shortened to -teen as a suffix for numbers 13–19, indicating "ten more than."
Etymology Origin:
The word "thirteen" originates from Old English þrēotīene, combining þrēo (three) and tīen (ten). Over time, phonetic shifts simplified the pronunciation and spelling, aligning with the pattern of other "-teen" numbers (e.g., fourteen, fifteen). The "thir" variant reflects a common Germanic root shared with Dutch dertien and German dreizehn.
She celebrated her thirteenth birthday with a trip to the zoo.
The clock struck thirteen in the futuristic novel.
Thirteen is often considered an unlucky number in Western culture.
The committee voted thirteen to two in favor of the proposal.
He scored thirteen points in the final quarter of the game.