eleven
eleven
Pronunciation
/ɪˈlɛvən/
e-: /ɪ/ - the 'i' sound in "bit"
lev-: /lɛv/ - the 'l' sound in "leaf," the 'e' sound in "bed," the 'v' sound in "vat"
-en: /ən/ - the 'a' sound in "sofa" (schwa), the 'n' sound in "nut"
Word Form Variations
"Eleven" is primarily used as a cardinal number and has no singular/plural variations in the same way nouns do. It refers to a specific quantity.
Noun: eleven (refers to the number itself or a group of eleven)
Adjective: eleven (modifies a noun, e.g., "eleven years")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The cardinal number that is one more than ten; the sum of ten and one.
Synonyms: eleven (as a numerical value, there are no true synonyms, but it represents the quantity), dozenth-minus-one
Antonyms: zero, none (antonyms in terms of quantity, though not direct numerical opposites)
Definition 2: A group or set consisting of eleven individuals or items.
Synonyms: team (in the context of sports, e.g., a football eleven), squad (referring to a group of eleven)
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, e.g., for a single unit within a group of eleven, "one" could be an antonym)
Adjective
Definition 1: Amounting to the number eleven in quantity.
Synonyms: undecimal (rare, formal), elevenfold (referring to being multiplied by eleven)
Antonyms: single (referring to one unit), fewer (in comparison to eleven), more (in comparison to eleven)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He closed his eyes and counted to eleven, trying to calm his racing heart." (Example from a fictional novel, general usage)
"Chapter Eleven: The Conspiracy Unravels" (Common use as a chapter number in non-fiction or fiction books)
"The first eleven amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights." (From a history textbook, specific numerical quantity)
Newspapers:
"The local football club signed eleven new players in the transfer window, hoping to revitalize their squad." (Sports section of a newspaper, refers to a group)
"At eleven o'clock sharp, the new policy was announced, sparking debates across the political spectrum." (Front page or political section, refers to a specific time)
"Inflation has hit an eleven-year high, raising concerns among economists." (Business or economics section, refers to a duration)
Online Publications:
"Top Eleven Reasons Why Remote Work Is Here to Stay" (Headline on a lifestyle blog or business news website, listicle format)
"The band's new album features eleven tracks, including a surprise collaboration." (Music review on an entertainment website, refers to a quantity of songs)
"Our eleven-point plan for sustainable urban development addresses key environmental challenges." (Article on an environmental or urban planning website, refers to a detailed plan)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"Stranger Things Eleven: Millie Bobby Brown's Most Iconic Moments" (Netflix show character name and associated articles/discussions; "Eleven" is a prominent character)
"The clock struck eleven, and the masked ball began." (Dialogue in a film or TV show, setting a time for an event)
"Matchday Eleven: Premier League Standings Update" (Title of a segment or article on a sports broadcasting platform like Sky Sports or ESPN, indicating the stage of a competition)
"Player Eleven has entered the game." (In-game notification in a multiplayer video game, referring to a specific participant)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you meet me at eleven?" (Common informal question asking for a meeting time)
"My son is turning eleven next month." (Casual conversation about age)
"There were only eleven people who showed up to the meeting." (Everyday observation about a small group)
"It's eleven degrees Celsius outside." (Reporting temperature in conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Eleven
"Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?" – Biff Tannen, Back to the Future (While this specific quote doesn't contain "eleven," the character Biff Tannen is associated with the year 1955, and the flux capacitor in the DeLorean requires 1.21 gigawatts of power, making the number eleven (1.21, where the 1s are prominent) an iconic, albeit indirect, numerical theme in the film.)
"This one goes to eleven." – Nigel Tufnel, This Is Spinal Tap (One of the most famous quotes involving the number, referring to a guitar amplifier's volume knob.)
"At the eleventh hour, we will find a way." – A common metaphorical phrase, often attributed to various speakers in the context of a last-minute effort.
"One's 'life' is a subject for the eleven o'clock news. My 'life' is a subject for the nine o'clock news." – Oscar Wilde (Implies a comparison of societal prominence or the timing of one's impact.)
"A stitch in time saves nine." – Proverb (While not "eleven," this proverb about prompt action is related to numerical efficiency and foresight.)
"It's like something out of a bad spy movie, only it's real, and it's eleven times worse." – (Attributed to various sources, often used to emphasize extreme negativity.)
"On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent." – Refers to Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. (Historical reference)
"You've got to be eleven when you play. You can't be ten and a half." – Joe Namath (Emphasizing full commitment, often attributed to athletes.)
"And eleven cents, it's not a lot. But you add it up, and it's a lot. Every time." – (A common sentiment in finance or economics discussions, highlighting the power of small increments.)
"The eleven-o'clock number is a show-stopping, emotionally powerful song that occurs late in the second act of a musical, often at or around the eleven o'clock mark if the show started at 8:00 PM." – (A theatrical term, not a direct quote from a person, but widely used in the entertainment industry.)
Etymology
The word "eleven" has a pretty cool and sensible origin story! It comes from Old English, specifically the word "endleofan" (pronounced something like "end-lay-ov-an").
Breaking it down, "endleofan" literally meant "one left (over)."
Think about it this way: our number system is based on ten (likely because we have ten fingers). So, when you count "one, two, three... ten," the next number, "eleven," is essentially "one" that's "left over" after you've completed a group of ten. The "end-" part is related to "one," and the "-leofan" part means "to leave" or "to be left."
This idea of "one left over" is also found in the word "twelve," which similarly means "two left over" (from Old English "twelf"). This clearly shows that early Germanic languages, from which English descends, counted in groups of ten.
The first known use of "eleven" in writing dates back to before 900 AD, appearing in Old English texts. Its meaning has consistently been the cardinal number representing the quantity of ten plus one.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Eleven
At the eleventh hour: At the last possible moment; just in time.
The eleven o'clock number: (Theatrical term) A show-stopping, powerful song in a musical that comes late in the second act.
Go to eleven: To exceed normal limits or expectations; to push something to its maximum. (From the movie This Is Spinal Tap)
The Eleventh Commandment: An unwritten rule or principle that is considered extremely important, often humorously or ironically presented as being as fundamental as the Ten Commandments.
An eleven-year itch: (Original) A recurring urge or restless feeling that arises after a period of eleven years, similar to the "seven-year itch."
Elevensies: (British informal) A mid-morning snack, typically eaten around eleven o'clock.
The "eleven" theory: (Original) A whimsical idea or belief that something is better or more effective when done or presented in a set of eleven.
Pushed to eleven: (Original) Strained to the absolute limit; operating at peak capacity.
A dozen minus one: (Synonymous concept) A way of referring to eleven without directly saying the word, emphasizing its relation to twelve.
The eleventh-hour deal: A negotiation or agreement that is reached just before a deadline.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of eleven from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
