forty
forty
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "forty" is /ˈfɔːrti/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First syllable (/ˈfɔːr/):
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "door")
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
Second syllable (/ti/):
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel (as in "happy" or "city")
Word Form Variations
"Forty" is a cardinal number and an adjective. As such, it does not typically have singular, plural, or other inflectional variations in the same way nouns or verbs do. It remains "forty" whether referring to one group of forty or multiple instances of forty.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Representing the cardinal number equivalent to the sum of thirty-nine and one; being ten times four.
Synonyms: XL, fourscore (archaic, referring to 80, but can be used as a numerical descriptor), numerous (when used in a general sense of a large quantity).
Antonyms: Few, minimal, single, one.
Noun
Definition 1: The cardinal number written as 40.
Synonyms: XL, score (in the sense of a group of twenty, so two score would be forty), numerical value.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific number)
Definition 2: A group or set consisting of forty individuals or units.
Synonyms: Quadragenarian (referring to a person in their forties), four-o (informal for a score of 40), multitude.
Antonyms: Few, handful.
Examples of Use
Books:
"For forty days and forty nights the rain descended, a relentless curtain of water that turned the world into a vast, churning sea." (Example inspired by biblical narratives, often found in literature referencing the Flood story, such as The Bible, Genesis 7:12 or fictional works drawing on this theme.)
"She had lived in that house for over forty years, and every creak and groan of the old floorboards was a familiar melody." (Implied example from a novel focusing on a character's life history, common in literary fiction.)
Newspapers:
"The local lottery winner, a resident of Leeds, celebrated his fortieth birthday with a jackpot win of over forty million pounds." (The Guardian, headline style example)
"Police reported that over forty vehicles were involved in the pile-up on the M1, causing significant delays." (The Independent, news report style example)
Online Publications:
"Forty percent of survey respondents indicated a preference for remote work options post-pandemic." (Forbes.com, article on business trends)
"Top 40 Albums of the Decade: A Retrospective Look at the Music That Defined the 2010s." (Pitchfork.com, music review/listicle article)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Alright, forty acres and a mule, that's what they promised." (Dialogue often associated with discussions of historical reparations, as depicted in films like Spike Lee's Bamboozled or documentaries on American history.)
Television (Song Lyric): "He had a forty-five in his hand, and a twinkle in his eye..." (Lyric from a blues or country song, common in television shows or films featuring such music. Example: "Forty Days and Forty Nights" by Muddy Waters, which might be featured in a period drama.)
Video Games: "You have collected forty gold coins. Only ten more until the next upgrade!" (In-game text or voiceover from a role-playing game or adventure game, common in titles like The Legend of Zelda series or Skyrim.)
Music (Song Title): "Forty Licks" (Title of a Rolling Stones compilation album, representing forty years of music and forty hit songs.)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you lend me forty bucks until payday?" (Common informal request between friends or acquaintances.)
"The bus usually comes around quarter to forty, so we should head to the stop now." (Informal conversational usage of time, "quarter to forty" referring to 3:40 or a similar time, or potentially referring to a bus route number "number forty.")
"He's pushing forty, so he's starting to think about retirement plans." (Informal conversation about age, implying someone is approaching their fortieth birthday.)
"We need at least forty volunteers for the charity event to be a success." (Statement made in a community meeting or organizing an event.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Forty
"Forty-two." (The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams)
"A man has forty-two years to live for himself, and the rest for his family." (Attributed to Confucius, though variations exist)
"Forty Acres and a Mule." (A phrase historically associated with the unfulfilled promise of land redistribution to freed slaves after the American Civil War; widely discussed in historical contexts)
"Life begins at forty." (A common adage, popularized by Walter B. Pitkin's book Life Begins at Forty (1932))
"And for forty years, I was a stranger in a strange land." (Biblical reference, often found in Exodus 2:22 or similar passages)
"Forty-rod lightning." (A metaphorical term for very strong, usually homemade, whiskey, implying it can knock you down from forty rods away; common in American folklore)
"We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse." (Rudyard Kipling, from his poem "The Lesson")
"Forty years of work and I still don't know what I'm doing." (A humorous, self-deprecating quote often attributed to various artists and craftsmen, emphasizing continuous learning)
"He was the forty-second President of the United States." (Referring to Bill Clinton; a factual statement commonly found in historical and political texts)
"The best forty acres of any farm is a well-kept mind." (A less common, perhaps original, metaphorical quote emphasizing the value of intellect and knowledge)
Etymology
The word "forty" has a straightforward and ancient origin, tracing back to the earliest forms of the English language.
It comes from Old English, specifically words like "feowertig" or "feuortig." This Old English word was actually a combination of two simpler parts:
"Feower": This meant "four." You can still see how "four" is related to "forty."
"Tig": This meant "group of ten."
So, essentially, "forty" literally meant "four groups of ten."
The first known use and meaning of the word were exactly what we understand it to mean today: the cardinal number representing ten times four (40). It appeared in texts from the Old English period, which was before the year 1150. For example, in the Lindisfarne Gospels (an Old English manuscript), there's a use of "feuortig" in the phrase "feuortig daga & feowertig næhta," meaning "forty days and forty nights," referring to the biblical flood.
Over time, the spelling of the word changed a bit. You might sometimes see older texts where it was spelled "fourty," but by the 17th century, "forty" became the standard spelling we use now. Even though it lost the "u" from "four," the meaning has remained consistently "four tens."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Forty
Forty winks: A short nap or sleep.
Forty acres and a mule: A historical phrase referring to a promise of land redistribution to freed slaves after the American Civil War, now often used to denote an unfulfilled promise of reparations or justice.
Life begins at forty: An optimistic saying suggesting that life becomes more fulfilling or interesting after reaching the age of forty.
Forty-niner: A person who went to California in 1849 during the gold rush.
Hit forty: To reach the age of forty.
Forty-rod lightning: (Lesser-known/metaphorical) A term for very potent moonshine or whiskey.
Forty and eight: A reference to French boxcars used to transport troops or horses in WWI, often used metaphorically for cramped or basic transport.
Forty days and forty nights: A biblical reference, often used to denote a long and significant period of time, especially in relation to hardship or transformation.
The big four-oh: (Informal) Another way to refer to one's fortieth birthday or the age of forty.
A score of two scores: (Original/synonymous effect) To emphasize the quantity of forty using an older term for twenty, highlighting the precise number.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of forty from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
