/twelv/ , n.
1. a cardinal number, 10 plus 2.
2. a symbol for this number, as 12 or XII.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. the Twelve , the 12 apostles chosen by Christ.
adj.
5. amounting to 12 in number.
[ bef. 900; ME twelve, inflected form of twelf, OE twelfe lit., (ten and) two leave, i.e., two left over; c. OFris twelef, twelf, OHG zwelif, ON tolf, Goth twalif; cf. Lith dvýlika; see TWO, LEAVE 1 , ELEVEN ]