thirteenth

1 of 2

adjective

thir·​teenth -n(t)th How to pronounce thirteenth (audio)
1
: being number 13 in a countable series
the thirteenth day
see Table of Numbers
2
: being one of 13 equal parts into which anything is divisible
a thirteenth share of the money

thirteenth

2 of 2

noun

"
plural thirteenths
-n(t)s
-n(t)ths
1
: number 13 in a countable series
the thirteenth of the month
2
: the quotient of a unit divided by 13 : one of 13 equal parts of anything
one thirteenth of the total
3
: a tax in medieval England comprising the 13th part of the value of movables or of an annual rent
4
a
: a musical interval (see interval sense 2c) embracing an octave and a sixth : a musical interval embracing thirteen diatonic degrees
b
: a note twelve diatonic degrees from another note : a note an octave and a sixth above or below another note
c
: a harmonic combination of two notes that are twelve diatonic degrees apart : the musical interval (see interval sense 2c)of a thirteenth as a harmonic combination

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English threttenthe, alteration (influenced by threttene thirteen) of threttethe, from Old English thrēotēotha (akin to Old Norse threttāndi thirteenth), from thrēotīne, thrēotȳne, thrēotēne thirteen + -otha, -tha -th

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Cite this Entry

“Thirteenth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thirteenth. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

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