twelve

[ twelv ]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.
2. a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. the Twelve, the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.

adjective

1. amounting to 12 in number.

twelve

/ twɛlv /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and two See also number
2. a numeral, 12, XII, etc, representing this number
3. something represented by, representing, or consisting of 12 units
4. Also calledtwelve o'clock noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to twelve

      twelve loaves

   2. ( as pronoun ) See also dozen duodecimal dodeca-

      twelve have arrived

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

before 900; Middle English twelve, inflected form of twelf, Old English twelfe literally, (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; cognate with Old Frisian twelef, twelf, Old High German zwelif, Old Norse tōlf, Gothic twalif; compare Lithuanian dvýlika; two, leave ¹, eleven

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

Old English twelf ; related to Old Frisian twelif , Old High German zwelif , Old Norse tolf , Gothic twalif

Example Sentences

"For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done," he said.

From BBC

Twelve days later, after the Israeli military finally withdrew from the area, the family members’ bodies, including Hind’s, were retrieved from the bullet-ridden car.

From Salon

Twelve candidates are running to join the board of trustees of the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

Twelve players from that year’s team had a hand in this year’s championship, including postseason heroes Mookie Betts, Walker Buehler and franchise icon Clayton Kershaw.

From Los Angeles Times

It upsets Enright to be “watching twelve billion election dollars chase down a few thousand anxious minds in Pennsylvania.”

From Salon