Pronunciation: [fˈɔːti͡əθ] (IPA) 
The word "fortieth" is spelled as /ˈfɔːtiəθ/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first part of the word "fort" is pronounced with an "or" sound, while the second syllable "ieth" is pronounced with a short "i" sound and a "th" sound at the end. The spelling reflects the way the word is spoken, and it is important to use the correct spelling to avoid confusion. "Fortieth" is often used to refer to the 40th item or occurrence in a series.
Fortieth is an adjective that describes the number or position occurring after the thirty-ninth in a series. It is derived from the cardinal number forty, which denotes the quantity or number of something. The term can be used in both numerical and ordinal contexts.
Numerically, fortieh is synonymous with the fraction 1/40, indicating that something is divided into 40 equal parts, and the fortieth is the one part out of those 40 parts.
Ordinally, fortieh denotes the position of an item or person in a sequence, with the fortieth being the one that follows the thirty-ninth. For example, in a list of the first 100 natural numbers, 40 is the fortieth number.
The term "fortieth" can also be used in a more figurative sense to convey a long or extended length of time or period. For instance, if someone says, "It took her the fortieth attempt to pass the exam," it means that she had to make 39 previous unsuccessful attempts before achieving success on the 40th try.
Overall, "fortieth" is a versatile term used both to denote the numerical quantity or number 40 and to signify a position in a sequential order.
• See Forty.
• The fourth ten; the number following thirty-nine.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word fortieth comes from the Middle English term fourtieth, which was derived from the Old English word feowertigoða. This Old English term combined feower (meaning four) and -tigoða (a suffix meaning -tieth). Over time, the word evolved into fourtieth, and around the 16th century, it took its current form, fortieth.
