Dictionary

decennium en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈsɛnɪəm/ (UK)

Etymology

From Latin decennium, from decennis (“10-year”) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns), from deciēs (“ten times”) + annus (“year”) + -is (suffix forming compound adjectives). Equivalent to decennial + -ium.

Meanings

1. (rare) Synonym of decade: a ten year period.
   • Christian leaders refused even to *look* through Galileo's telescope (as a matter of fact, the Vatican cleared Galileo's name only as late as in the previous decennium). 1996, soc.culture.usa (Usenet):
   • G.B. still has to cope with the heritage of approx. 20 years of consecutive Conservative reigns, just as you guys are getting your act together after almost a decennium of Enlightened Ronnie. 1998, soc.culture.netherlands (Usenet):

Forms

Deriveds

decenniad · decennal

Relateds

decennial (10-year anniversary) · decennially · decennial

Synonyms

decade