Ninety-Nine
/ˌnaɪn.ti ˈnaɪn/noun
The number 99, one less than one hundred.
Did you know?Unlike words with occult or mythic roots, ninety-nine is a purely arithmetic compound built from Old English number words, showing how even ordinary language can be a ritual of counting and completion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*newn̥
“the number nine”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*newun
“nine”
Old English
English
nigon tīene
“literally 'nine tens' for ninety, with nine added again in the compound”
Middle English
English
nineti nine
“the number 99”
Modern English
English
ninety-nine
“the number 99”