eighty-second
C1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eighty-two, meaning number 82 in a sequence.
Can refer to a fraction (1/82) or, less commonly, a specific position, point, or time (e.g., the eighty-second year of an institution).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an ordinal number. It is hyphenated when used as an adjective or noun before a noun, but often spelled without a hyphen when following a linking verb (e.g., 'He came in eighty-second'). In fractions, it typically functions as a noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Potential minor variations in hyphenation preferences exist, with American style guides sometimes being more rigid.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties for ordinal use. The frequency declines sharply for its use as a fraction.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[the/our/my] eighty-second [noun]coming/placed/ranking eighty-secondone eighty-second of [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the eighty-second floor (metaphor for a high level or position).”
- “An eighty-second chance (an exaggerated expression for a very remote opportunity).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company celebrated its eighty-second year of operation."
Academic
"The results were published in the eighty-second volume of the journal."
Everyday
"It's my grandfather's eighty-second birthday next week."
Technical
"The isotope has a half-life of approximately one eighty-second of a microsecond."
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He is celebrating his eighty-second birthday.
- She lives on the eighty-second floor.
American English
- The eighty-second annual conference was held in Chicago.
- We're reviewing the eighty-second amendment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am number eighty-two. So, I am the eighty-second person.
- Her grandfather is eighty-two years old. He just had his eighty-second birthday.
- The proposal was the eighty-second item on the committee's lengthy agenda.
- He finished the marathon in eighty-second place.
- One eighty-second of the estate was bequeathed to a charitable foundation.
- The manuscript, discovered in the eighty-second volume of the archive, revolutionized our understanding of the period.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EIGHTY' followed by 'SECOND' place. You're not first, you're second... after eighty others.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IS A NUMBER (e.g., being the eighty-second implies a specific, quantifiable place in a sequence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'восемьдесят две секунды' (eighty-two seconds). The ordinal 'second' is 'второй'. Correct: 'восемьдесят второй'.
- The hyphen is crucial in writing to avoid misreading as two separate numbers.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as 'eightisecond' or 'eightytwo'.
- Omitting the hyphen when it is required before a noun: 'the eighty second chapter' (incorrect) vs. 'the eighty-second chapter' (correct).
- Incorrect pronunciation stress: stressing 'sec' instead of the first syllable of 'eighty'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'eighty-second' as a fraction?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but only in the predicate after a linking verb, e.g., 'He finished eighty second.' When it comes directly before a noun as a modifier, the hyphen is required: 'the eighty-second finisher.'
It is pronounced 'one eighty-second' or 'an eighty-second.'
'Eighty-two' is a cardinal number (82). 'Eighty-second' is an ordinal number (82nd), indicating position or sequence.
As an ordinal number for counting sequences, it is reasonably common. Its use as a fraction (1/82) is very rare in everyday language.