quadragenarious

English

Alternative forms

• quadrigenarious (obs.)

Etymology

From Latin quadrāgēnārius (“containing 40”), either directly or via French quadragénaire, from Latin quadrāgēnus (“40 each”) + -ārius (“-ary”), from quadrāgintā (“four tens, forty”). Cognate with quadragenarian, quadragenary, and quadragene.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈˌkwɑdɹəd͡ʒɪˈnɛɹiəs/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkwɒdɹəd͡ʒɪˈnɛəɹɪəs/

Adjective

quadragenarious (not comparable)

1. (rare) Synonym of quadragenarian: Of or related to fortysomethings.
   • 1894, Harper's New Monthly Magazine, volume 90:

     ...cutting out valiantly from under the guns of a dozen rivals some stout buxom widow suited to his estate and to his medium years — one of those plumply mellow quadrigenarious bodies who especially appeal to the vigorous and well-salted emotion which with sailor-men stands for love...

   • 1903, The Christian Work and the Evangelist, volume 75:

     This is doubtless the reason who^[sic] our quadragenarious friends sometimes surprise us with their matrimonial ventures.

References

• “quadragenarious, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.