sexagenary

American  

[sek-saj-uh-ner-ee] / sɛkˈsædʒ əˌnɛr i /

adjective

1. of or relating to the number 60.

2. composed of or proceeding by sixties.

3. sexagenarian.

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noun

plural

sexagenaries

1. a sexagenarian.

Usage

What does sexagenary mean? Sexagenary is a less common word for a sexagenarian—someone in their 60s (60 to 69 years old), or someone who is 60 years old.Like sexagenarian, sexagenary can also be used as an adjective to describe someone in their 60s, as in Our audience is mostly made up of sexagenary women, or things related to such a person, as in I have entered my sexagenary years. The similar term septuagenary can refer to or describe someone in their 70s. Terms with the same ending as sexagenarian include quadragenarian (40s), quinquagenarian (50s), septuagenarian (70s), octogenarian (80s), and nonagenarian (90s).Sexagenary can also be used as an adjective to describe things involving the number 60 or to mean composed of or proceeding by 60s. Notably, the Chinese calendar is based on a sexagenary cycle, meaning each cycle lasts 60 years.Example: Today is my last day as a sexagenary—tomorrow I begin my 70s!

Etymology

Origin of sexagenary

1525–35; < Latin sexāgēnārius, equivalent to sexāgēn ( ī ), distributive of sexāgintā sixty + -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

It is known that the Chinese, the Mongols, and most of the peoples of Eastern Asia, make use in their chronological calculations of a sexagenary cycle, composed of ten signs called trunks, and of twelve signs which bear the name of branches. 

From Project Gutenberg

In China, the present sexagenary cycle commenced with the year 1805, and the years Tao-Kouang date from 1820, the epoch when the Emperor now reigning mounted the throne. 

From Project Gutenberg

Whilst it is customary in China for years to be designated at times by the Neen-haou or title of an emperor and an event to be alluded to as having occurred in such or such a year of a certain ruler's reign, the mode of computing years is by reckoning by sexagenary cycles.

From Project Gutenberg

The name of the first year, or of the first day, in the sexagenary cycle is formed by combining the first words in each of the above series; the second is formed by combining the second of each series, and so on to the tenth.

From Project Gutenberg

The child, now a sexagenary, disclosed it to the municipality.

From Project Gutenberg