English
fifth
Fifth comes from Old English fīfta, from Proto-Germanic *fimftô ‘fifth’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe ‘five’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pénkʷe‘five’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*penkʷtósreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fimftôreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fīfta
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fifthe
- Englishearliest quotation 1854fifth
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pénkʷe‘five’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*penkʷtósreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fimftôreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fīfta
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fifthe
- Englishearliest quotation 1854fifth
Earliest quotation: 1854, Tregonhorke’s First Trip in a Man-of-War: “A lisping young “Soundings,” or master’s assistant, sung out…”
Formed from five + -th
Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe
Proto-Germanic *fimf
Proto-West Germanic *fimf
Old English fīf
Middle English fyf
English five
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe ‘five’
five, punch, finger, pentagon, pimp, fin, cinque, quintus, quine, quintuple, 20 more
through Proto-Indo-European *penkʷtós
Today it means
adj The ordinal form of the number five.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe / fifth