septuagenary

American  

[sep-choo-aj-uh-ner-ee, -too-, -tyoo-, -choo-uh-jee-nuh-ree] / ˌsɛp tʃuˈædʒ əˌnɛr i, -tu-, -tju-, -tʃu əˈdʒi nə ri /

adjective

septuagenaries plural

1. septuagenarian.

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Usage

What does septuagenary mean? Septuagenary is a less common word for a septuagenarian—someone in their 70s (70 to 79 years old), or someone who is 70 years old. Like septuagenarian, septuagenary can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 70s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of septuagenary women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my septuagenary years. The similar term sexagenary can refer to or describe someone in their 60s. Terms with the same ending as septuagenarian include quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), sexagenarian (60s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s). Such words are more commonly used as people get older: quadragenarian and quinquagenarian are rarely used, but septuagenarian and octogenarian are more commonly used. Example: Today is my last day as a septuagenary—tomorrow I begin my 80s!

Etymology

Origin of septuagenary

1595–1605; < Latin septuāgēnārius, equivalent to septuāgēn ( ī ) seventy each (distributive of septuāgintā seventy) + -ārius -ary