umpteen
a large number of something
TRANSLATION
umpteen = viele, zig --- GOOGLE INDEX umpteen: approximately 3,300,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
In my view these newer, faster computers have all sorts of gimmicks that add very little to their usability, but add lots to Bill Gates' pocket and also cause caused UMPTEEN otherwise serviceable computers to be loaded into landfill sites.
(BBC NEWS)
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Sony hacked for the UMPTEENTH time
(International Business Times)
(BBC NEWS)
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Sony hacked for the UMPTEENTH time
(International Business Times)
Did you
know?
umpteen (also umpteenth)
adjective
- very many; a lot (of something)
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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Umpteen is a strange word that originated during World War I. It derived from "umpty," a slang word used by telegraph operators at the turn of the 20th century to describe an infinite number of something (equated to the Morse code "dash"). The ending "teen" stems from its use in the numbers 13 through 19.
Although the American Samuel Morse is credited with inventing the telegraph, the groundwork for the technology was laid by others. A crude telegraph was invented in Bavaria by Samuel Soemmering in 1809. He used 35 wires with gold electrodes in water. At the receiving end (2,000 feet), the message was read by the amount of gas caused by electrolysis. The first telegraph in the USA was invented by Harrison Dyar in 1828, who sent electrical sparks through chemically treated paper tape to burn dots and dashes.
In 1825, British inventor William Sturgeon then invented the electromagnet. In 1830, the American inventor Joseph Henry demonstrated the potential of Sturgeon's electromagnet for long distance communication by sending an electronic current over one mile of wire to activate an electromagnet which caused a bell to strike.
British physicists William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone patented their own telegraph using the same principle of electromagnetism. However, it was Samuel Morse who successfully exploited the electromagnet and bettered Joseph Henry's invention.
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SYNONYMS
considerable, countless, infinite, innumerable, lots of, many, millions, numerous, umteen, very many, zillion
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"I have told him umpteen times to make a backup of important files?"
adjective
- very many; a lot (of something)
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
Umpteen is a strange word that originated during World War I. It derived from "umpty," a slang word used by telegraph operators at the turn of the 20th century to describe an infinite number of something (equated to the Morse code "dash"). The ending "teen" stems from its use in the numbers 13 through 19.
Although the American Samuel Morse is credited with inventing the telegraph, the groundwork for the technology was laid by others. A crude telegraph was invented in Bavaria by Samuel Soemmering in 1809. He used 35 wires with gold electrodes in water. At the receiving end (2,000 feet), the message was read by the amount of gas caused by electrolysis. The first telegraph in the USA was invented by Harrison Dyar in 1828, who sent electrical sparks through chemically treated paper tape to burn dots and dashes.
In 1825, British inventor William Sturgeon then invented the electromagnet. In 1830, the American inventor Joseph Henry demonstrated the potential of Sturgeon's electromagnet for long distance communication by sending an electronic current over one mile of wire to activate an electromagnet which caused a bell to strike.
British physicists William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone patented their own telegraph using the same principle of electromagnetism. However, it was Samuel Morse who successfully exploited the electromagnet and bettered Joseph Henry's invention.
---
SYNONYMS
considerable, countless, infinite, innumerable, lots of, many, millions, numerous, umteen, very many, zillion
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"I have told him umpteen times to make a backup of important files?"
