fortnight

/'fɔ:tnait/

Thân thiện

The family planned a fortnight-long vacation to the coast.

Definition

Noun: A period of fourteen consecutive days; two weeks.

Usage

The word "fortnight" is used to specify a duration of exactly fourteen days. It is more common in British English than in American English, where "two weeks" is typically preferred.

Examples

• The summer camp lasts a fortnight.
• I will be on vacation for a fortnight starting next Monday.
• "I'll see you in a fortnight," she said as she left.

Advanced Usage

• "a fortnight today" / "a fortnight from today": Refers to a date exactly two weeks from the current day.
  • The project is due a fortnight today.
• "a fortnight ago": Refers to a point in time exactly two weeks in the past.
  • I received the letter a fortnight ago.
• "fortnightly" (Adjective/Adverb): Occurring or appearing every two weeks.
  • We have a fortnightly team meeting. (Adjective)
  • The magazine is published fortnightly. (Adverb)

Variants and Related Words

• Fortnightly (adj/adv): Happening or done once every two weeks.
• Biweekly (adj/adv): Can mean either twice a week or once every two weeks, which can cause ambiguity. "Fortnightly" is unambiguous for "every two weeks."

Synonyms

• Two weeks
• Fourteen days

Notes on Meaning

"Fortnight" specifically and unambiguously means a period of fourteen days. It is derived from the Old English "feowertyne niht", meaning "fourteen nights."

Học thuật

Noun

1. a period of fourteen consecutive days
   • most major tennis tournaments last a fortnight

Từ đồng nghĩa

• two weeks