Deborah PickettJun 6
English speakers: what’s your opinion on the word “thrice”?
Great word, I use it unironically
38%
Silly word, I use it in jest
27.2%
A bit archaic, users get side-eye
28.1%
Linguistic trash can, just say “three times”
4.4%
I’m not familiar with this word
2.3%
Poll ended at .
Show threadpulusoundJun 7

@futzle used it when i was younger, not so much anymore because it feels a bit pretentious. which doesnt mean it is, but idk, english seems to tend towards simplification

i like the concept of such short counting words, but the pattern is bizarre

one - once
two - twice
three - thrice
four - quarce?
five - quince??

why does it turn (more) latin starting from four?! i dont think ive ever even heard these used

in finnish we just tack a -sti after the number and call it a day

Show threadV
@ahihi @futzle the sequence ends at thrice;
Once through thrice are not latin in origin, they're germanic (PIE->proto germanic->old english by at least the 12th century)
There isn't an equivalent for four+, at least in english, the latter ones sound odd because to create a new adverbial form for 4+ it's a much newer construct, and often uses a latin root for whatever reason, even though it's a remnant of old Germanic grammar and morphology - "Fource" would at least fit the pattern better.
Jun 7 at 8:24amWeb
Show threadVJun 7
@ahihi @futzle It *was* originally just the number with a suffix (-es) which made it an adverbial, similar to how you describe finnish doing it now - but that was... At least around 9 centuries ago.
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@miss_rodent @ahihi Oh, now that you put it like that, of course it is, I see it now.