quinquagenary

English

Etymology

From Latin quīnquāgēnārius (“containing 50”), either directly or via French quinquagénaire, from Latin quīnquāgēnus (“50 each”) + -ārius (“-ary”), from quīnquāgintā (“five tens, fifty”). Cognate with quinquagenarian and quingenary.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /kwɪŋˈkwæd͡ʒəˌnɛɹi/, /ˌkwɪŋkwəˈd͡ʒɛnəɹi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkwɪŋkwəˈd͡ʒiːn(ə)ɹi/, /ˌkwɪŋkwəˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹi/, /kwɪŋˈkwæd͡ʒɪn(ə)ri/

Noun

quinquagenary (plural quinquagenaries)

1. (obsolete, rare) Synonym of pentecoster: an officer who commands 50 men.
2. A 50-year anniversary.

Adjective

quinquagenary (not comparable)

1. Synonym of quinquagenarian: Of or related to fiftysomethings.
2. Of or related to 50-year anniversaries.

References

• “quinquagenary, n. and adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022.