twelve
Americannoun
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a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.
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a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.
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a set of this many persons or things.
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the Twelve, the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.
adjective
noun
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the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and two See also number
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a numeral, 12, XII, etc, representing this number
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something represented by, representing, or consisting of 12 units
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Also called: twelve o'clock. noon or midnight
determiner
Etymology
Origin of twelve
before 900; Middle English twelve, inflected form of twelf, Old English twelfe literally, (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; cognate with Old Frisian twelef, twelf, Old High German zwelif, Old Norse tōlf, Gothic twalif; compare Lithuanian dvýlika; two, leave 1, eleven
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Across five similar geopolitical shocks, equities were higher twelve months later in four out of five cases. Selling into the initial panic has historically been the most-costly decision an investor can make.”
From Barron's
“It’s a peace offering. You know, for before,” I said, flapping a hand that I hoped encompassed twelve years of general rudeness and animosity.
From Literature
More than twelve hours after the hit, the area still smelled faintly of burning.
From Barron's
On day twelve of this great spirit silence, Mr. Capron and Mr. Willets knocked at the front door.
From Literature
It was twelve miles from where we lived in the hills to the little town of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and it would take a good part of the day to get there.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
