How Do You Spell ORDINAL INDICATOR?

Pronunciation: [ˈɔːdɪnə͡l ˈɪndɪkˌe͡ɪtə] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "ordinal indicator" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable "or-" is pronounced as /ˈɔːr/, with a long "o" sound and a stressed "r" sound. The second syllable "-di-" is pronounced as /ˈdaɪ/, with a short "i" sound and a stressed "d" sound. The final syllable "-nal" is pronounced as /ˈɔːrnəl/, with a long "o" sound and a neutral "l" sound. The word refers to a symbol used in writing to indicate a numerical position in a series, such as "1st" or "2nd".

ORDINAL INDICATOR Meaning and Definition

1. An ordinal indicator is a linguistic symbol or character used to represent the rank or position of a number in an ordered sequence. It is usually a suffix attached to a numeral to denote its ordinal value.

   In the English language, a common ordinal indicator is the suffix "-th" or "-st," which is used to indicate the position of a number in an ordered series. For example, "1st" represents the ordinal form of the cardinal number "one," indicating the first position in a sequence. Similarly, "5th" represents the ordinal form of the cardinal number "five," indicating the fifth position in a sequence.

   Ordinal indicators are widely used in various contexts, including dates (e.g., February 14th), rankings (e.g., 1st place), numerical references (e.g., Chapter 2nd), and counting (e.g., 10th Street).

   It is worth noting that not all numbers have an ordinal indicator. For instance, certain numbers, such as 11, 12, and 13, do not follow the general pattern of adding a suffix like "-th" or "-st." Instead, they use the suffix "-th" or "-st" when written as ordinals (e.g., 11th, 12th, 13th).

   In conclusion, an ordinal indicator is a linguistic element used to express the numerical position or rank of a number within a sequence. It helps to convey the order or sequence of items, digits, or events.

Etymology of ORDINAL INDICATOR

The etymology of the word "ordinal" can be traced back to the Latin word "ordinalis", which means "orderly". It is derived from the Latin word "ordo", meaning "order" or "arrangement". This Latin root can also be seen in words like "order" and "ordinary".

The word "indicator" originated from the Latin word "indicāre", which means "to point out" or "to indicate". It is derived from the combination of the Latin root "in-" meaning "in" or "towards" and "dicāre" meaning "to proclaim" or "to declare".

So, when combined, the words "ordinal" and "indicator" form the term "ordinal indicator", which refers to the symbol or character used to indicate the position of an item in a series or sequence.