quadragenarious
English edit
Alternative forms edit
- quadrigenarious (obs.)
Etymology edit
From Latin quadrāgēnārius (“containing 40”), either directly or via French quadragénaire, from Latin quadrāgēnus (“40 each”) + -ārius (“-ary”), from quadrāgintā (“four tens, forty”). Cognate with quadragenarian, quadragenary, and quadragene.
Pronunciation edit
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈˌkwɑdɹəd͡ʒɪˈnɛɹiəs/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌkwɒdɹəd͡ʒɪˈnɛəɹɪəs/
Adjective edit
quadragenarious (not comparable)
- (rare) Synonym of quadragenarian: Of or related to fortysomethings.
- 1894, Harper's New Monthly Magazine, volume 90:
- ...cutting out valiantly from under the guns of a dozen rivals some stout buxom widow suited to his estate and to his medium years — one of those plumply mellow quadrigenarious bodies who especially appeal to the vigorous and well-salted emotion which with sailor-men stands for love...
- 1903, The Christian Work and the Evangelist, volume 75:
- This is doubtless the reason who[sic] our quadragenarious friends sometimes surprise us with their matrimonial ventures.
References edit
- “quadragenarious, adj.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.