I. ˈnīn sometimes for emphasis, as by telephone operators, -īən adjective
Etymology: Middle English nyne, nigen, from Old English nigon; akin to Old High German & Gothic niun nine, Old Norse nīu, Latin novem, Greek ennea, Sanskrit nava
: being one more than eight in number
nine years
— see number table
II. pronoun, plural in construction
Etymology: Middle English nyne, from Old English nigone, from nigon, adjective
: nine countable persons or things not specified but under consideration and being enumerated
nine are here
nine were found
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from nyne, adjective & pron.
1. : one more than eight : three threes : the square of three
2.
a. : nine units or objects
a total of nine
b. : a group or set of nine
arranged by nines
3.
a. : the numerable quantity symbolized by the arabic numeral 9
b. : the figure 9
4. : nine o'clock — compare bell table, time illustration
5. : the ninth in a set or series: as
a. : a playing card marked to show that it is ninth in a suit
b. : an article of clothing of the ninth size
wears a nine
6. : something having as an essential feature nine units or members: as
a. : a playing team of nine members ; especially : a baseball team
b. : the first or last 9 holes of an 18-hole golf course
fired a two-under-par 33 on the front nine and held his advantage in the back nine — Vancouver (Canada) Sun
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- to the nines