twelve

[ twelv ]

noun

1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.
2. a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. the Twelve, the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.

adjective

1. amounting to 12 in number.

twelve

/ twɛlv /

noun

1. the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and two See also number
2. a numeral, 12, XII, etc, representing this number
3. something represented by, representing, or consisting of 12 units
4. Also calledtwelve o'clock noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to twelve

      twelve loaves

   2. ( as pronoun ) See also dozen duodecimal dodeca-

      twelve have arrived

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

before 900; Middle English twelve, inflected form of twelf, Old English twelfe literally, (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; cognate with Old Frisian twelef, twelf, Old High German zwelif, Old Norse tōlf, Gothic twalif; compare Lithuanian dvýlika; two, leave ¹, eleven

Word History and Origins

Origin of twelve¹

Old English twelf ; related to Old Frisian twelif , Old High German zwelif , Old Norse tolf , Gothic twalif

Example Sentences

Grindr currently has twelve ‘tribes,’ and for some people this just is not enough.

From The Daily Beast

When twelve people are killed by violence, whoever they are, for whatever reason, that is a tragedy and a waste.

From The Daily Beast

Twelve-year-old dance prodigy Maddie Ziegler has suffered the wrath of Dance Moms tyrant Abby Lee Miller.

From The Daily Beast

When it was announced that Jourdan Dunn would be the first black model to cover British Vogue in twelve years it made me sad.

From The Daily Beast

I arrive at twelve-twenty-five and the secretaries are in a tizzy.

From The Daily Beast

It was close upon twelve o'clock, and the "Rooms" had been open to the public for two hours.

From Project Gutenberg

At twelve, or fifteen, or sixteen, or twenty it was decided that they should stop learning.

From Project Gutenberg

In the next chapter he gives his twelve disciples authority over demons.

From Project Gutenberg

With twelve hundred foes around us, we had plenty to occupy all our thoughts and attention.

From Project Gutenberg

We had been twelve hours in the saddle, and had ridden over nearly a hundred miles of ground.

From Project Gutenberg