Re: Cardinal vs Ordinal Age
| From: | Ray Brown <ray.brown@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Tuesday, November 4, 2003, 6:20 |
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On Monday, November 3, 2003, at 07:46 AM, Mike Ellis wrote:
[snip]
>
> I've thought about this before. Your very FIRST year of life is the one
> from the day you were born -- your zeroth birthday -- until your first
> birthday, when you're LESS than a year old. Your SECOND year of life
> begins
> on that day -- your first birthday -- and continues until your second
> birthday.
> In your fortieth year, you are thirty-nine.
Precisely.
Ordinals seem favored by people when they reach that time when they no
longer try to hide their age but rather wish to boast of their longevity.
Certainly IME nongenarians are likely to say "I'm in my 93rd year" rather
than the tamer "I'm only 92". :)
Ray
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