fortnight

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A period of two weeks.

   We are going on holiday for a fortnight in August.

Simplified etymology

Fortnight is an Old English contraction of “fourteen nights.” Its formation reflects the ancient Germanic practice of reckoning periods of time by nights rather than days.

From Middle English fourtenyght, fourtene nyght, from Old English fēowertīene niht (literally “fourteen nights"; the Anglo-Saxons counted by nights), equivalent to fourteen + night. Compare sennight.

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