forty

[ fawr-tee ]

noun

, plural for·ties.

1. a cardinal number, ten times four.
2. a symbol for this number, as 40 or XL or XXXX.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. forties, the numbers, years, degrees, or the like, from 40 through 49, as in referring to numbered streets, indicating the years of a lifetime or of a century, or degrees of temperature:

   His office is in the West Forties. Her parents are in their forties. The temperature will be in the forties.

adjective

1. amounting to 40 in number.

forty

/ ˈfɔːtɪ /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the product of ten and four See also number
2. a numeral, 40, XL, etc, representing this number
3. something representing, represented by, or consisting of 40 units

determiner

1. 1. amounting to forty

      forty thieves

   2. ( as pronoun )

      there were forty in the herd

Word History and Origins

Origin of forty¹

before 950; Middle English fourti, Old English fēowertig (cognate with Old Frisian fiuwertich, Old High German fiorzug, German vierzig ). See four, -ty ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of forty¹

Old English fēowertig

Example Sentences

Forty years after its creation, the Transformers are finally getting their flowers.

From Salon

The post continued: “His Grand Immortal Dictator wishes to celebrate our rich and storied culture, fine foods, and musical entertainments by welcoming you to these great demonstrations of power and resolve. And lending voice and song for the first time in six thousand two hundred and forty six days, their work privilege ceremoniously reinstated, will be His Grand Immortal Dictator’s National Band… The Black Parade.”

From Los Angeles Times

Forty years and two months ago, Duff McKagan first arrived in Los Angeles as a fresh-faced punk rocker with ambitions of taking over the world.

From Los Angeles Times

“Forty f— years ago!” the 60-year-old McKagan exclaims as he laughs over Zoom, sitting at a table at his Seattle home that overlooks the water.

From Los Angeles Times

A text message from De León’s campaign included a grainy photo of Jurado and warned that “Forty years of Latino representation is threatened.”

From Los Angeles Times