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

He surpassed 300 yards passing in a playoff game for the 13th time, making every throw imaginable and some outside those bounds, submitting a classic performance in his first as a quadragenarian.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2018

The Yankees scheduled starter, Andy Pettitte, turned 40 on Friday, so he will be making his first start as a quadragenarian.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2012

Pettitte will make his first start as a quadragenarian Saturday afternoon against the Washington Nationals, looking to continue his strong start to the season.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2012

Accordingly, as in the whole of heaven there is no quadragenarian to be found, a child will be as old there as Nestor, namely, thirty-two years and three months.

From Hesperus or Forty-Five Dog-Post-Days Vol. I. A Biography by Jean Paul

Mr. Bridmain, in fact, quadragenarian bachelor as he was, felt extremely well pleased to receive his sister in her widowhood, and to shine in the reflected light of her beauty and title.

From Scenes of Clerical Life by Eliot, George