twentieth

Everyday

1. Twentieth comes after nineteenth in order: number 20. tree →
2. A twentieth is one of twenty equal parts of a whole, written 1/20. tree →
3. The twentieth century was a hundred years of history, the time of the first cars, planes and computers. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: an order position or a fraction: one twentieth = 1/20 = 0.05 = 5%; as a fraction divide by 20; as an order word there are 19 before it. History: the twentieth century, with cars, planes and computers.

Examples

• She was the twentieth person in line. tree →
• One twentieth of 100 is 5. tree →
• On his twentieth birthday he got a car. tree →
• The twentieth floor is the top. tree →
• One twentieth is the same as five percent. tree →
• Planes were invented in the twentieth century. tree →
• “Tink can’t go a twentieth part of the way round,” she reminded him a little tartly. tree →

Note

Written 20th. As a fraction divide by 20. As an order word it gives a position: there are 19 before it. Trap: the twentieth century is the hundred years whose numbers begin with 19, not 20.

In Jewish tradition

Used for dates, such as the twentieth day of the month, when the cloud lifted and Israel began to travel.

Interpretation. Tradition counts months and days carefully because Israel's festivals depend on exact dates.

Examples

• And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dry. (Torah GEN.8.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (Torah EXO.12.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. (Torah NUM.10.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel; (Writings 1CH.24.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; (Writings 1CH.25.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul; (Writings 1CH.24.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Written 20th. As a fraction divide by 20. As an order word it gives a position: there are 19 before it. Trap: the twentieth century is the hundred years whose numbers begin with 19, not 20.