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Webster 1913 Edition

Twelve

Twelve

,
Adj.
[OE.
twelve
,
twelf
, AS.
twelf
; akin to OFries.
twelf
,
twelef
,
twilif
, OS.
twelif
, D.
twaalf
, G.
zwölf
, OHG.
zwelif
, Icel.
tōlf
, Sw.
tolf
, Dan.
tolv
, Goth.
twalif
, from the root of E.
two
+ the same element as in the second part of E.
eleven
. See
Two
, and
Eleven
.]
One more that eleven; two and ten; twice six; a dozen.
Twelve-men’s morris
.
See the Note under
Morris
.
–
Twelve Tables
.
(Rom. Antiq.)
See under
Table
.

Twelve

,
Noun.
1.
The number next following eleven; the sum of ten and two, or of twice six; twelve units or objects; a dozen.
2.
A symbol representing twelve units, as 12, or xii.
The Twelve
(Script.)
,
the twelve apostles.
Matt. xxvi. 20.

Webster 1828 Edition

Twelve

TWELVE

,
Adj.
twelv. The sum of two and ten; twice six; a dozen. Twelve men compose a petty jury.

Definition 2024

twelve

twelve

English

English numbers
 <  11 12 13  > 
    Cardinal : twelve
    Ordinal : twelfth
    Multiplier : twelvefold

Alternative forms

  • Arabic numerals: 12
  • Roman numerals: XII

Numeral

twelve

  1. The cardinal number occurring after eleven and before thirteen, represented in Arabic numerals as 12 and in Roman numerals as XII.
    There are twelve months in a year.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Noun

twelve ‎(plural twelves)

  1. A group of twelve items.
    Fractions would be a little easier if we counted by twelves.
  2. A twelve-bore gun.
    • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), page 880:
      In this way Von Esslin ‘inherited’ two fine hammerless twelves which he used once or twice for duck on the Camargue.
  3. (law, colloquial) A jury (normally composed of twelve persons).

Related terms

See also

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: consider · provided · Rome · #970: twelve · opposite · vast · isn't

Etymology

From Middle English twelve, from Old English twelf ‎(“twelve”), from Proto-Germanic *twalif, an old compound of *twa- ‎(“two”) and *-lif ‎(“left over”), from Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- ‎(“leave, remain”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian tweelf, tweelif, tweelich ‎(“twelve”), West Frisian tolve ‎(“twelve”), Dutch twaalf ‎(“twelve”), German zwölf ‎(“twelve”), Danish tolf ‎(“twelve”), Norwegian tolv ‎(“twelve”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /twɛlv/
  • Rhymes: -ɛlv

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