decade

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A period of ten years.

   The town has changed dramatically over the past decade.

2. 2
   noun

   A particular ten-year span, such as the 1960s.

   The 1960s was a turbulent decade.

From Middle English decade, from Old French decade, from Late Latin decādem (“(set of) ten”), from Ancient Greek δεκάς (dekás), from δέκα (déka, “ten”). In reference to a span of ten years, originally a clipping of the phrase decade of years. By surface analysis, dec- + -ade. Doublet of decad and dekad.

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