octogenary

English

Etymology

From Latin octōgēnārius (“containing 80”) either directly or via French octogénaire, from Latin octōgēnus (“80 each”) + -ārius (“-ary”), from octōgintā (“eight tens, 80”). Cognate with octogenarian.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɑkˈtɑ.d͡ʒəˌnɛr.i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɒkˈtɒd͡ʒ.ɪ.nə.ri/

Adjective

octogenary (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Of or related to the number 80, particularly

   Coordinate terms: unary, binary, ternary, trinary, tetranary, quintenary, hexanary, septenary, octonary, nonary, decenary, vicenary, tricenary, quadragenary, quinquagenary, semicentenary, sexagenary, septuagenary, nonagenary, centenary, millenary

   1. Synonym of octogenarian: lasting or aged 80 years; 80-year-old.
      • a. 1697, John Aubrey, “......De Laune”, in Brief Lives:

        […] he went to visit him, being then octogenary, and very decrepid with the gowt, but had his sight and understanding.

Noun

octogenary (plural octogenaries)

1. (obsolete) Synonym of eightysomething: a person 80 to 89 years old.

References

• “octogenary, adj. and n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.
• “octogenary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.