vicenaryn.adj.
/ˈvɪsənəri//ˈvʌɪsənəri/ A. n.
† One who has command over twenty persons. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > [noun] > those in authority > person in authority > person in authority over specific number > over 10, 20, 100
tithingmanOE
vicenary1603
1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures 49 Delicat, another Captaine, or vicenarie in Sara, hauing vnder him twenty assistants.
B. adj.
‘Belonging to twenty’ (Bailey, 1727); based on the number twenty. Cf. vigenary adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > eleven to ninety-nine > [adjective] > twenty > counting in twenties
vigesimal1656
vicenarya1831
vigenary1837
vicesimal1902
a1831 G. Peacock Arithm. in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) I. 371/1 Such a practice would naturally lead to the formation of a vicenary scale of numeration.
1834 Penny Cycl. II. 337/2 In France the scale from 60 to 100 is strictly vicenary (by twenties).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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n.adj.1603