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 called: twelve o'clock. noon or midnight

determiner

1. 1. amounting to twelve

      twelve loaves

   2. ( as pronoun ) See also dozen

      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

Of the other 16, twelve were preceded by large pullbacks in the S&P500, of more that 10%, within the year leading up to election day, and the other saw pullbacks of less than 10%.

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“Economic activity was little changed since the previous report, according to most of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts,” the report said.

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“Economic activity was little changed since the previous report, according to most of the twelve Federal Reserve Districts,” the report said.

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“I think it’s been twelve years. In fact, about as old as Kwame and Autumn!”

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“I estimate two hundred and twelve,” Alexander announced, after a brief mental calculation.

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