mid-15c., alteration (by influence of four), of ferthe, from Old English feorea "fourth," from Proto-Germanic *fe(d)worthon- (cognates: Old Saxon fiortho, Old Norse fioree, Dutch vierde, Old High German fiordo, German vierte); see four + -th (1). As a noun from 1590s, both of fractions and in music.
Among the old Quakers, who rejected the pagan weekday names, fourth day was Wednesday, often a secondary day of meeting for worship. Fourth-dimension attested from 1844. The theatrical fourth wall is from 1807. The celebration of the Fourth of July as the epoch of American independence is attested from 1777.
That there is due to Daniel Smith, of the city tavern, for his bill of expences of Congress, on the 4 of July last, including a balance of an old account, the sum of 729 68/90 dollars; also a bill for materials, workmanship, &c furnished for the fire works on the 4 July, the sum of 102 69/90 dollars .... [Auditor General's report, Aug. 8, 1777, "Journals of Congress," vol. VII]
雙語例句
1. She had been sitting with her knitting at her fourth-floor window.
她那時正坐在5樓的窗前織東西。
來自柯林斯例句
2. England will have to settle for third or fourth place.
英格蘭將只好接受第三或第四的排名。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The country had confounded the pundits by electing a fourth-term Tory government.
該國國民連續四次選舉托利黨來執掌政府，這令專家們困惑不已。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The brooch dates back to the fourth century BC.
這枚胸針的歷史可以追溯到公元前4世紀。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Felipe Gonzalez won a fourth term of office in Spain's election.