Examples Word Origin
noun (used with a singular verb ) British a game resembling handball, played on a court having a front wall and two side walls. Show More
Origin of fives First recorded in
1630–40; five +
-s3 a cardinal number, four plus one. a symbol for this number, as 5 or V. a set of this many persons or things. a playing card, die face, or half of a domino face with five pips. Informal a five-dollar bill: Can you give me two fives for a ten? Show More
amounting to five in number. Show More
take five , Informal to take a brief respite. Show More
Origin of five before 1000; 1925–30 for def 7 ; Middle English; Old English fīf; cognate with Dutch vijf, German fünf, Old Norse fimm, Gothic fimf, Latin quīnque, Greek pénte, Sanskrit pancha
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for fives quintuple ,
cinquefoil ,
pentangle ,
pentagram ,
lustrum ,
cinque ,
quinquennium ,
pentacle ,
quintuplet ,
pentagon ,
limerick ,
pentad ,
pentamerous ,
quinary ,
quinate ,
quinquennial ,
quincunx ,
quintuplicate Examples from the Web for fives Contemporary Examples of fives When an armored truck convoy stops, the patrol leader will give the command “fives and twenty-fives ” over the radio.
This does not seem like a very natural packaging size; things usually come in fives and tens.
But more than once I was paid for my services with a handful of crinkled ones and fives .
More than once I was paid for my services with a handful of crinkled ones and fives .
Historical Examples of fives He used to be alive, you know—the Ockley who was keeper of the fives in my first half.
From it he drew a wad of bills, fives and tens, and made another wad.
Muriel was among the first two fives to be called to the floor.
Just count these twos and fives for me, dear; fifteen of each there should be.
He had often read of their coming in groups of fives and sixes.
British Dictionary definitions for fives (functioning as singular) a ball game similar to squash but played with bats or the hands Show More
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one a numeral, 5, V, etc, representing this number the amount or quantity that is one greater than four something representing, represented by, or consisting of five units, such as a playing card with five symbols on it Show More
amounting to five five minutes ; five nights (as pronoun ) choose any five you like Related prefixes: penta-, quinque-Show More
Word Origin for five Old English fīf ; related to Old Norse fimm , Gothic fimf , Old High German finf , Latin quinque , Greek pente , Sanskrit pañca
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for fives n. Old English fif , from Proto-Germanic *fimfe (cf. Old Frisian and Old Saxon fif , Dutch vijf , Old Norse fimm , Old High German funf , Gothic fimf ), from PIE *penkwe- (cf. Sanskrit panca , Greek pente , Latin quinque , Old Church Slavonic peti , Lithuanian penke , Old Welsh pimp ). The sound shift that removed the *-m- is a regular development involving Old English, Old Frisian, and Old Saxon (cf. thought , from stem of think ; couth from *kunthaz ; us from *uns .
Slang five-finger discount "theft" is from 1966. Five o'clock shadow attested by 1937. The original five-year plan was 1928 in the U.S.S.R.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with fives The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
