Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ten
Ten
(tĕn)
, Adj.
[AS.
tēn
, tién
, tȳn
, tēne
; akin to OFries. tian
, OS. tehan
, D. tien
, G. zehn
, OHG. zehan
, Icel. tīu
, Sw. tio
, Dan. ti
, Goth. taíhun
, Lith. deszimt
, Russ. desiate
, W. deg
, Ir. & Gael. deich
, L. decem
, Gr. δέκα
, Skr. daçan
. √308. Cf. Dean
, Decade
, Decimal
, December
, Eighteen
, Eighty
, Teens
, Tithe
.] One more than nine; twice five.
With twice
ten
sail I crossed the Phrygian Sea. Dryden.
☞ Ten is often used, indefinitely, for several, many, and other like words.
There ’s a proud modesty in merit,
Averse from begging, and resolved to pay
Averse from begging, and resolved to pay
Ten
times the gift it asks. Dryden.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ten
TEN
,Adj.
1.
Twice five; nine and one. With twice ten sail I cross'd the Phrygian sea.
2.
It is a kind of proverbial number. There's a proud modesty in merit,
Averse to begging, and resolv'd to pay
Ten times the gift it asks.
The meaning in this use is, a great deal more, indefinitely.