Where does “nine-tenths” come from?
nine-tenths (English) comes from English nine, from Middle English nyn, from Old English niġon, from Proto-Germanic newun, from Proto-Indo-European h₁néwn̥ — nine.
nine-tenths (English): Nine parts out of ten; 90%; 9/10; Almost all; the...
Definitions
- Nine parts out of ten; 90%; 9/10; Almost all; the...
Ancestry of “nine-tenths”, step by step
nine-tenths traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English nine
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nine | A numerical value equal to 9; the number... |
| 2 | Middle English | nyn | nine |
| 3 | Old English | niġon | nine |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | newun | nine |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁néwn̥ | nine |
via English tenths
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tenths | plural of tenth |