sexagenary

A woman celebrates her sexagenary birthday with family.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to the number sixty: "sexagenary" describes something that is based on or involves the number sixty, often referring to a period of sixty years or a system of sixty units.
   • Of or pertaining to a person of sixty years of age: Used to characterize someone who is sixty years old or in their sixties.

2. Noun:

   • A person who is sixty years old: "sexagenary" refers to an individual who has reached the age of sixty.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The sexagenary cycle is an important concept in Chinese astrology. (A cycle of sixty years used in traditional calendars.)
  • He began his sexagenary journey with a sense of reflection. (The period of being sixty years old.)

• Noun:

  • The club is open to all sexagenaries who enjoy hiking. (People aged sixty or in their sixties.)
  • She is a proud sexagenary, celebrating her sixth decade of life. (A person who is sixty years old.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sexagenary cycle": a recurring cycle of sixty years, often used in East Asian calendars (e.g., Chinese zodiac).

  • The sexagenary cycle combines the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches. (A sixty-year calendrical system.)

• "Sexagenary system": a numeral system based on the number sixty.

  • The sexagenary system was used by ancient Babylonians for astronomy. (A base-60 counting system.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sexagenarian (n/adj): a person who is between 60 and 69 years old; relating to such a person.

  • The sexagenarian marathon runner amazed everyone with his stamina. (A person in their sixties.)

• Sexagesimal (adj): relating to or based on the number sixty (often used for mathematical systems).

  • The sexagesimal system is used for measuring time and angles. (Base-60 arithmetic.)

Synonyms

• Sixty-year-old: a person or thing that is sixty years of age or duration.
• Sexagenarian: a person in their sixties (more common than "sexagenary").

Related Idioms

• The big six-oh: an informal phrase for turning sixty years old.

  • He is planning a grand party for the big six-oh. (Celebrating his sixtieth birthday.)

• Sixty is the new forty: a modern saying suggesting that people in their sixties are active and youthful.

  • She runs marathons and travels — sixty is the new forty for her. (Age is not limiting.)

Note on Usage

"Sexagenary" is a rare and formal word, more commonly encountered in historical or astronomical contexts (e.g., "sexagenary cycle") than in everyday speech. The noun form is less frequent than "sexagenarian."