fortnight
(ˈfɔːtnaɪt)
Forms: 3 furten-, 3–5 fourte-, (5 fourtee-, fowerte-), 4–5 fourten-, fowrt(e-, 5–7 fo(u)rth-, 6 fourt-, (fortk-), 6– fort-: see night.
[Contracted form of OE. féowert{yacu}ne niht fourteen nights. Cf. sennight. For the ancient Germanic method of reckoning by nights see Tacitus Germania xi.]
1. A period of fourteen nights; two weeks.
| a 1000 Laws of Ina §55 Oþ ðæt feowertyne niht ofer Eastron. c 1275 Lay. 25675 Nou his folle fourteniht [c 1205 feowertene niht] þat he hire haueþ i-holde forþ riht. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 4236 Al a fourten niȝt sike he lay. c 1440 Generydes 5342 It passith not a fourthnyght sithe it was. 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 20 It is but a senyghtes labour, or, at the moste, a fourtnyghtes. 1639 Hamilton Papers (Camden) 81, I shall make ane end of uhuat I can do in on fortnighte. c 1720 Prior Case Stated 8 It wanted a fortnight to Bartlemew-fair. 1879 Froude Cæsar viii. 69 During the brief fortnight of his seventh consulship. |
b. this day, Monday, † Monday was (a), etc. fortnight: a fortnight from (this day, etc.).
| 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 71 Y⊇ tridde shal been y⊇ sunday fowrtenytz aftere hestern. 1470–85 Malory Arthur x. ii, I..haue remembraunce of your promyse that ye haue made with me to doo bataille with me this day fourtenyght. 1605 Nottingham Rec. IV. 278 To be payd..10 li. this day fort⁓night. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 533 ¶2 On Monday was fortnight it was my misfortune to come to London. |
† 2. attrib.; occas. quasi-adj. = fortnightly.
| 1549 Latimer 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 120 There was thre wekes sessions at newgate, and fourthnyghte Sessions at the Marshialshy. 1563 Child Marriages (E.E.T.S.) 59 At the fortnight end, he maried her not, but [etc.]. |