quattordicesimo

Quattordicesimo is the Italian ordinal numeral that designates the position coming after the thirteenth in a sequence. It functions as both an adjective and a noun element and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: masculine singular quattordicesimo, feminine singular quattordicesima, masculine plural quattordicesimi, feminine plural quattordicesime. It is widely used to indicate the fourteenth item in lists, orders, or measurements, as well as to refer to dates, periods, or rankings.

Etymology and form: the term derives from Latin quartus decimus, via the historical development of Italian quattordecimo and its assimilation to quattordicesimo. The form reflects the fusion of quattro (four) and decimo (tenth), yielding a distinct Italian ordinal.

Usage: in everyday language it appears in references to chapters, pages, or items: il quattordicesimo capitolo, la quattordicesima pagina, il quattordicesimo posto. It can denote a day or period when used with a noun indicating time, for example il quattordicesimo giorno di maggio or il quattordicesimo secolo for the 14th century. In feminine contexts, quattordicesima is used: la quattordicesima edizione, la quattordicesima persona. While dates are commonly given with cardinal numbers (14 maggio), the ordinal form can occur in formal writing or specific phrasing.

See also: quattordicesima. The term is part of Italian ordinal systems and contrasts with the cardinal fourteen, quattordici.