thirteen
thirteen
Pronunciation
thirteen: /ˌθɜːrˈtiːn/
First Syllable: /ˌθɜːr/
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative (as in "thin")
/ɜːr/ - r-colored vowel (as in "bird")
Second Syllable: /ˈtiːn/
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop (as in "top")
/iː/ - long "ee" vowel (as in "see")
/n/ - alveolar nasal (as in "nose")
Word Form Variations
The term "thirteen" is primarily a cardinal number and an adjective, and as such, it does not typically have singular, plural, or other inflectional variations in the same way that nouns or verbs do.
Cardinal Number/Adjective: thirteen
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Representing the quantity equivalent to one more than twelve; serving to quantify a set or group of items totaling this specific count.
Synonyms: n/a (as it's a specific number)
Antonyms: n/a (as it's a specific number)
Definition 2: Pertaining to or characteristic of something or someone that is thirteen years of age, often implying a stage of early adolescence.
Synonyms: adolescent (in context of age), teenage (in context of age)
Antonyms: n/a (as it's a specific age)
Noun
Definition 1: The cardinal number written as 13.
Synonyms: baker's dozen minus one (informal, less common)
Antonyms: n/a (as it's a specific number)
Definition 2: A group, set, or quantity consisting of thirteen units or individuals.
Synonyms: baker's dozen minus one (informal, less common)
Antonyms: n/a (as it's a specific number)
Definition 3: (Informal) A person who is thirteen years old.
Synonyms: teenager (specifically a 13-year-old), adolescent
Antonyms: n/a (refers to a specific age)
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was an idyllic time, one that ended abruptly when I turned thirteen and my parents decided I was old enough to be useful." (From The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, 2016)
Newspapers:
"The average age of first smartphone ownership in the region has dropped to just under thirteen, raising concerns among educators." (As seen in a local community newspaper article)
Online Publications:
"How to Survive Being Thirteen: A Guide for Parents and Kids" (Headline from an article on Psychology Today's website)
Entertainment Mediums (Film):
In the 2003 film Thirteen, the plot revolves around a thirteen-year-old girl navigating the challenges of adolescence.
Entertainment Mediums (Music):
Taylor Swift's album 1989 includes the track "Style," which has lyrics that include the phrase, "You've got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt, and I got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt." (While not directly using "thirteen," Swift herself has often cited thirteen as her lucky number and it is a recurring motif in her career).
Entertainment Platforms (Television Series):
"The season finale saw the characters reveal a secret they had kept for thirteen years, leading to a dramatic confrontation." (A plot point in a crime drama series, as discussed on fan forums)
General Public Discourse:
"My son just started high school; he's only thirteen, but he seems to be handling it well." (A statement overheard in casual conversation)
10 Quotes Using Thirteen
"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." (George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four)
"I do believe that my whole success goes back to that time I was arrested as a wayward boy at the age of thirteen." (Louis Armstrong)
"Being a child at home alone in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you." (Erma Bombeck)
"I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me!" (Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I A Woman?" speech, 1851)
"When I was thirteen I only wanted to be a drummer." (Ringo Starr)
"From the time I was thirteen, there was a constant struggle between MGM and me - whether or not to eat, how much to eat, what to eat." (Judy Garland)
"I was born near Bucharest, but my parents came to France a year later. We moved back to Romania when I was thirteen, and my world was shattered." (Eugene Ionesco)
"America has been the country of my fond election from the age of thirteen, when I first saw it." (John Paul Jones)
"Thirteen, 13 children, and I love - I love them all. And I think I've been a good father to all of them." (Anthony Quinn)
"I was a thirteen-year-old boy for thirty years." (Mickey Rooney)
Etymology
The word "thirteen" has a very old history, going back to the earliest forms of English. It comes from the Old English word þreotene or þreotiene.
Let's break that down:
"þreo" (pronounced like "thray-oh") meant "three." You can still see this root in our modern "three."
"-tiene" was a word element in Old English that basically meant "ten more than."
So, þreotene literally meant "three and ten," or "three more than ten." Over time, the pronunciation shifted a bit, leading to the "thir-" sound and the current spelling of "thirteen." This change, where sounds in a word get rearranged, is called metathesis. It's the same kind of shift that happened with "third" from an older "thrid."
The first known use of "thirteen" in its current meaning (the number one more than twelve) can be traced back to the Old English period itself, which means it was in use before the year 1150. It's a word that has been a part of the English language for a very long time, essentially describing the quantity of "three plus ten."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Thirteen
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "thirteen" or its related concepts:
A baker's dozen: While not directly using "thirteen," this idiom means "thirteen" (originally referring to an extra loaf given by bakers to avoid being penalized for short weight).
Thirteen-thirty (13:30): Used in 24-hour time to refer to 1:30 PM.
The Big Thirteen: (Original) Referring to a significant or major group of thirteen.
Turn thirteen: To reach the age of thirteen.
At thirteen: Indicating a specific age.
Unlucky thirteen: (Lesser-known/Original) A phrase playing on the superstition surrounding the number thirteen, implying misfortune.
Thirteen to one: Indicating very long odds against something.
The thirteen colonies: A historical reference to the original British colonies in North America that formed the United States.
Hit thirteen: (Original) To achieve or reach a count of thirteen.
Thirteen-step program: (Original) A playful or informal reference to a structured program, echoing the concept of a twelve-step program.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of thirteen from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
