Have you ever wondered why certain numbers are spelled in a specific order while others aren’t? For example, the number four is written before the number five, and the number thirty-nine is written before the number forty. Similarly, the number thirty-nine is written before the number forty. But why is the number forty spelled first in the alphabet before any other number? In this post, we will investigate the history behind the way the number forty is spelled, as well as the reasoning for why it is written before any other number.
The Origin of the Spelling of Forty
The origin of the spelling of forty may be traced back to the Old English language. The original spelling of the word was “forty.” Forty was written as “flowering” in Old English, meaning “four tens.” The spelling was eventually shortened to “forty” when it appeared in Medieval English. The word “forty” did not initially appear in written form until the 16th century, when its spelling was altered.
Because the letter “u” was frequently substituted for the letter “o” in English during that historical period, the word’s spelling eventually changed. On the other hand, the spelling of “u” and “o” was not standardized, and people often confused one another when using either letter. The word “forty” was eventually established with the spelling that included the letter “o.”
Why Forty is Spelled Before any Other Number
Now that we know where the spelling of forty came from, the issue is why forty is always spelled before any other number. The fact that forty is the only number whose spelling contains letters in alphabetical order is the clue that will lead you to the correct answer.
First, look at how the number forty is spelled: F-O-R-T-Y. The letters F, O, R, and T come next in the order of the alphabet after Y. There is no other number that possesses this quality. For instance, thirty-nine is written as T-H-I-R-T-Y-N-I-N-E, and the letters do not appear in the order corresponding to the alphabet. Because of this, forty is the only number that can be spelled using the letters in the correct order.
Significance of Forty
The number forty is significant for several reasons, including the fact that it is spelled in the correct sequence according to the alphabet and for its meaning in several different cultures and religions. In the Christian religion, the number forty is significant because it represents the number of days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness.
The number forty is significant in Judaism because it stands for a trial or a probation period, as shown in the Old Testament story of the Great Flood, which occurred over forty days and nights. In Islam, the number forty is significant because it stands for a period of cleansing, as evidenced by observing forty days of mourning after the passing of a loved one.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that the number 40 in cardinal numbers is the only number whose letters are alphabetically placed? It would be spelled FORTY if you were to write it out. Each word is presented in the correct order based on its letter. And the only cardinal number whose spelling can be placed in alphabetical order is the number forty, the only number with four digits.
And the only ordinal number to have its letters ordered alphabetically is the first one, which represents the number 1. Is F-I-R-S-T? First signifies one or any object that arrives first or begins anything first. First can also refer to the beginning of anything.
And in addition to that, are you aware of the number that can be spelled backward using the alphabet?
Whoever or whatever is spelled or whose letters are sorted alphabetically from least to most common is the first in the cardinal numbers. In the English alphabet, the letter O comes after the letter N, followed by the letter E, and finally, the letter O comes after the letter N.
Conclusion
The spelling of forty may be traced back to the Old English language, and it was then shortened to “forty” in Middle English. In conclusion, the forty spelling can be traced back to Old English. The word “forty” did not initially appear in written form until the 16th century, when its spelling was altered. Because it is the only number whose spelling contains letters in alphabetical order, the number forty is spelled before any other number; this is why it is spelled before any other number. In addition, the number forty holds significant meaning in several different civilizations and religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
