quadragenarian

American  

[kwod-ruh-juh-nair-ee-uhn] / ˌkwɒd rə dʒəˈnɛər i ən /

adjective

1. 40 years of age.

2. between the ages of 40 and 50.

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noun

1. a person who is 40 years old or whose age falls between 40 and 50.

quadragenarian British  

/ ˌkwɒdrədʒɪˈnɛərɪən /

noun

1. a person who is between 40 and 49 years old

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adjective

1. being from 40 to 49 years old

Usage

What does quadragenarian mean? A quadragenarian is someone in their 40s (40 to 49 years old), or someone who is 40 years old. Quadragenarian can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 40s, as in I never thought I’d be a quadragenarian grandmother, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my quadragenarian years. It’s one of several similar terms used to refer to a person of a certain age, including quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s). Quadragenarian is rarely used. Such words are much more commonly used for older people, especially septuagenarians and octogenarians. Example: Today is my last day as a quadragenarian—tomorrow I begin my 50s!

Etymology

Origin of quadragenarian

1830–40; < Latin quadrāgēnāri ( us ) consisting of forty ( quādrāgēn ( ī ) forty each + -ārius -ary ) + -an

Explanation

A quadragenarian is a person in their forties. If your dad's brother is 42 years old, you can introduce him to your friend as your quadragenarian uncle. Quadragenarian is just a fancy way to say "40-something." Anyone between the ages of 40 and 49 is a quadragenarian, and you can also use the word as an adjective: "My quadragenarian math teacher is not as cool as my 72-year-old art teacher." Quadragenarian is from the Latin quadrāgēnārius, "containing 40," which derives from quadrāgintā, "four tens."

Example Sentences

Quadragenarian, kwod-ra-jē-nā′ri-an, adj. consisting of forty: forty years old.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various