Forms: 3 furten-, 3–5 fourte-, (5 fourtee-, fowerte-), 4–5, fourten-, fowrt(e-, 5–7 fo(u)rth-, 6 fourt-, (fortk-), 6– fort-: see NIGHT. [Contracted form of OE. féowertýne niht fourteen nights. Cf. SENNIGHT. For the ancient Germanic method of reckoning by nights see Tacitus, Germania, xi.]
1. A period of fourteen nights; two weeks.
a. 1000. Laws of Ina, § 55. Oþ ðæt feowertyne niht ofer Eastron.
c. 1275. Lay., 25675.
| Nou his folle fourteniht [c. 1205, feowertene niht] | |
| þat he hire haueþ i-holde forþ riht. |
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 4235.
| Bot him self bi niȝt and day | |
| Al a fourten niȝt sike he lay. |
c. 1440. Generydes, 5342.
| It passith not a fourthnyght sithe it was, | |
| To Amelokkez doughter lucydas. |
1530. Palsgr., Introd. 20. It is but a senyghtes labour, or, at the moste, a fourtnyghtes.
1639. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 81. I shall make ane end of uhuat I can do in on fortnighte.
c. 1720. Prior, Case Stated, 5.
| While I pleaded with passion how much I deserv’d, | |
| For the pains and the torments for more than a year; | |
| She look’d in an Almanack, whence she observ’d, | |
| That it wanted a fortnight to BARTLEMEW-FAIR. |
1879. Froude, Cæsar, viii. 69. During the brief fortnight of his seventh consulship he gave him an appointment, which reminds us of the boy-bishops of the middle ages.
b. This day, Monday, † Monday was (a), etc. fortnight: a fortnight from (this day, etc.).
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 71. Ye tridde shal been ye sunday fowrtenytȝ aftere hestern.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. ii. I … haue remembraunce of your promyse that ye haue made with me to doo bataille with me this day fourtenyght.
1605. Nottingham Rec., IV. 278. To be payd in this wyse, videlicet, 10 li. this day fortnight.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 533, 11 Nov., ¶ 2. On Monday was Fortnight it was my Misfortune to come to London.
† 2. attrib.; occas. quasi-adj. = FORTNIGHTLY.
1549. Latimer 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 120. There was thre wekes sessions at newgate, and fourthnyghte Sessions at the Marshialshy.
1563. Child Marriages (E.E.T.S.), 59. At the fortnight end, he maried her not, but toke her away thens.
