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Fortnight

2 stages from Old English to English.

Today it means a period of two weeks

Where does the word "fortnight" come from? It comes from Old English fēowertīene niht, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
fēowertīene niht
Old English · medieval
"fourteen nights"
'fourteen nights'; Tacitus's Germania (AD 98) remarks that the Germans reckon time by nights rather than days
2
Stage 2 of 2
fortnight
English · 1400s
"two weeks"
contracted in Middle English, alongside 'sennight' (seven nights), which died out; still everyday in Britain but rare in American English
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Fortnight’s story begins in Old English: fēowertīene niht meant “fourteen nights.” 'fourteen nights'; Tacitus's Germania (AD 98) remarks that the Germans reckon time by nights rather than days. It reached English by 1400s as fortnight. Contracted in Middle English, alongside 'sennight' (seven nights), which died out; still everyday in Britain but rare in American English. Today, fortnight means a period of two weeks.