quadragenarious en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌkwɒd.ɹə.d͡ʒɪˈnɛə.ɹɪəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌkwɑd.ɹə.d͡ʒɪˈnɛ.ɹiəs/ (General-American)
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin quadrāgēnārius (“containing 40”), either directly or via French quadragénaire, from Latin quadrāgēnus (“40 each”) + -ārius (“-ary”), from quadrāgintā (“four tens, forty”). Doublet of quadragenarian, quadragenary, and quadragene.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable, rare) Synonym of quadragenarian: Of or related to fortysomethings.
This is doubtless the reason who^([sic]) our quadragenarious friends sometimes surprise us with their matrimonial ventures.
1903, The Christian Work and the Evangelist, volume 75:He signed the letter "Canis Quadragenarious" (Forty-year-old Dog).
2002, Shaw: The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies, volume 22:[…]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[…]
1894, Harper's New Monthly Magazine, volume 90:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| quadrigenarious | alternative | lexicographic |