decennial

English

Etymology

A siliqua commemorating the decennial of the Roman emperor Julian

From Latin decennialis, from decennium (“10-year period”) + -ālis, from decennis (“10-year”) + -ium (“-ium”, suffix forming abstract nouns), from decem (“ten”) + annus (“year”) + -is (suffix forming compound adjectives).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈsɛnɪəɫ/

Noun

decennial (plural decennials)

1. Synonym of decade, a ten-year period.
2. A tenth anniversary, particularly
   1. (historical) Synonym of decennalia, the festival and religious ritual held in the 10th year of a Roman emperor's reign.
      • 2022, Martin Hallmannsecker, Roman Ionia..., p. 110:

        Roman coins mentioning the vota publica for Macrinus are RIC IV.1 5–13; on vota publica for the decennials and vicennials of emperors in the 2nd and 3rd c. ad, see Chastagnol 1984.

Usage notes

In reference to the Roman festival, sometimes used in the plural to match Latin decennalia and provide for the variety of events.

Synonyms

• decaversary (informal, rare), tin anniversary (informal)

Coordinate terms

• (Roman festival): quinquennial, vicennial, tricennial

Related terms

• (10-year period): See decennium and decade

Translations

tenth anniversary of an event

• Italian: decennale (it) m

Adjective

decennial (not comparable)

1. Occurring every ten years.
2. Of or related to a ten-year period, as a term of office.

Synonyms

• decennary
• (obsolete) decennal, decennalian

Derived terms

• (adv.): decennially
• sesquidecennial

Translations

Occurring every ten years

• Italian: decennale (it)

Anagrams

• celandine, danceline, line dance, line-dance