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Thursday, January 9, 2014

Nth

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Nth!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Nth
nth adjective \ˈen(t)th\
—used to refer to an unknown number in a series of numbers

Full Definition of NTH
1:  numbered with an unspecified or indefinitely large ordinal number <for the nth time>
2:  extreme, utmost <to the nth degree>

Examples of NTH
<exaggerates to the nth degree about everything she ever did>

Origin of NTH
n (indefinite number) + -th
First Known Use: 1827


Today's word is one that some question its validity of being a word in the English language.  Nth is considered a legitimate word, is available for use in Scrabble and other word games, yet does not meet the standards of a word.  It has no vowel, yet somehow it has meaning and a pronunciation.

So why does this word irritate me?  I really do not know.  It just doesn't roll of the tongue... it requires another word to bring clarity such as the infamous "Nth Degree."  Whatever the reason it rubs me wrong, I just wish people would quantify the number they mean rather than using an obscure reference such as Nth!

Reference
Nth. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nth

The Nth Degree Club (image) (n.d.) LukeWoodHouse.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from http://www.lukewoodhouse.com/the-nth-degree-club/

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