mid-15c., alteration (by influence of four), of ferthe, from Old English feorða "fourth," from Proto-Germanic *fe(d)worthon- (cognates: Old Saxon fiortho, Old Norse fiorðe, Dutch vierde, Old High German fiordo, German vierte); see four + -th (1). As a noun from 1590s, both of fractions and in music.
Among the old Quakers, who rejected the pagan weekday names, fourth day was Wednesday, often a secondary day of meeting for worship. Fourth-dimension attested from 1844. The theatrical fourth wall is from 1807. The celebration of the Fourth of July as the epoch of American independence is attested from 1777.
That there is due to Daniel Smith, of the city tavern, for his bill of expences of Congress, on the 4 of July last, including a balance of an old account, the sum of 729 68/90 dollars; also a bill for materials, workmanship, &c furnished for the fire works on the 4 July, the sum of 102 69/90 dollars .... [Auditor General's report, Aug. 8, 1777, "Journals of Congress," vol. VII]
双语例句
1. She had been sitting with her knitting at her fourth-floor window.
她那时正坐在5楼的窗前织东西。
来自柯林斯例句
2. England will have to settle for third or fourth place.
英格兰将只好接受第三或第四的排名。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The country had confounded the pundits by electing a fourth-term Tory government.
该国国民连续四次选举托利党来执掌政府，这令专家们困惑不已。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The brooch dates back to the fourth century BC.
这枚胸针的历史可以追溯到公元前4世纪。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Felipe Gonzalez won a fourth term of office in Spain's election.
