Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

twelve

 - 3 dictionary results

twelve

  [twelv] ,
Use twelve in a Sentence
–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
5. amounting to 12 in number.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME twelve, inflected form of twelf, OE twelfe lit., (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; c. OFris twelef, twelf, OHG zwelif, ON tōlf, Goth twalif; cf. Lith dvýlika; see two, leave 1 , eleven
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To twelve
twelve   (twělv)   
n.  

  1. The cardinal number equal to the sum of 11 + 1.

  2. The twelfth in a set or sequence.

  3. Twelve Bible

    1. The twelve original disciples of Jesus.

    2. The books of the Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.


[Middle English, from Old English twelf; see dwo- in Indo-European roots.]
twelve adj. & pron.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

twelve 
O.E. twelf, lit. "two left" (over ten), from P.Gmc. *twa-lif-, a compound of the root of two + *lif-, root of the verb leave (see eleven). Cf. O.S. twelif, O.N. tolf, O.Fris. twelef, M.Du. twalef, Du. twaalf, O.H.G. zwelif, Ger. zwölf, Goth. twalif. Outside Gmc., an analogous formation is Lith. drylika, with second element -lika "left over."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see twelve on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way