fourth
pronunciation
How to pronounce fourth in British English:
UK [fɔːθ]
How to pronounce fourth in American English:
US [fɔːrθ]
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- Noun:
- following the third position; number four in a countable series
- one of four equal parts
- the musical interval between one note and another four notes away from it
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- Adjective:
- coming next after the third and just before the fifth in position or time or degree or magnitude
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- Adverb:
- in the fourth place
Word Origin
- fourth (adj.)
- mid-15c., alteration (by influence of four), of ferthe, from Old English feorða "fourth," from Proto-Germanic *fe(d)worthon- (cognates: Old Saxon fiortho, Old Norse fiorðe, Dutch vierde, Old High German fiordo, German vierte); see four + -th (1). As a noun from 1590s, both of fractions and in music. Among the old Quakers, who rejected the pagan weekday names, fourth day was Wednesday, often a secondary day of meeting for worship. Fourth-dimension attested from 1844. The theatrical fourth wall is from 1807. The celebration of the Fourth of July as the epoch of American independence is attested from 1777. That there is due to Daniel Smith, of the city tavern, for his bill of expences of Congress, on the 4 of July last, including a balance of an old account, the sum of 729 68/90 dollars; also a bill for materials, workmanship, &c furnished for the fire works on the 4 July, the sum of 102 69/90 dollars .... [Auditor General's report, Aug. 8, 1777, "Journals of Congress," vol. VII]
Example
- 1. The fourth is over how to reinforce solidarity .
- 2. Saudi arabia controls about a fourth of all the world 's proven oil reserves .
- 3. The average global temperature from january to march was the fourth highest on record .
- 4. A fourth plant is planned .
- 5. The fourth floor housed furniture stores .