Dictionary entry

Ten

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Ten (?), a. [AS. tēn, tién, t�n, 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. �, 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 proud modesty in merit,

Averse from begging, and resolved to pay

Ten times the gift it asks. Dryden.