a. and sb. Forms: α. 1 endlyfta, Northumb. ællefta, 3–4 enlefte, north. elleft. β. 1 endleofeða, 4 ellevefþe, 4–5 enlevenþ, -the, ellevend, -ent, -enþe, -ynd, -ynt, (4 allevenþe, elned, 5 aleffant), 6 elleventh, (ellewint, elevynth, aleventh, eleven, leventh, Sc. levint, 7 elventh, 9 dial. elevent), 7– eleventh. [OE. ęndlyfta, ællefta, correspond to OFris. andlofta, ellefta, OS. ellifto, OHG. einlifto (MHG. einlifte, eilfte, mod.G. elfte), ON. ellifte (not recorded in Goth.):—OTeut. *ainlifton- f. *ainlif- ELEVEN + ordinal suffix f. OAryan -to-. As in the case of other numerals, the original word has been superseded (since 14th c.) by a new formation on the cardinal numeral + -th (after FOURTH), which is now the universal ordinal suffix. Certain forms in ME. and mod.Eng., following other analogies, have -t or -d instead of -th.]

1

  A.  adj.

2

  1.  That comes next in order to the tenth. Eleventh hour: the latest possible time, in allusion to the parable of the laborers (Matt. xx.).

3

971.  Blickl. Hom., 93. Eall eorþe bið mid þeostrum oforþeaht æt þa endlyftan tid þæs dæʓes.

4

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xx. 6. Ða embe þa endlyftan tide he uteode.

5

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 414. Þe enlefte day of heruest.

6

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 22627. Þe signe o þe dai elleft, It es na skil þat it be left.

7

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4798. Þe ellevend day men sal com out Of caves.

8

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., IX. xix. (1495), 357. The enleuenth month is Nouembre.

9

1489.  Plumpton Corr., 78. Aleffant day of moneth of March.

10

1513–75.  Diurn. Occurr. (1833), 10. Wpoun the ellewint day of July, &c.

11

1551.  Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., I. xvii. According vnto the eleuen conclusion.

12

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., I. i. 2. In th’ eleuenth yere of ye last Kings reign.

13

1663.  Cowley, Verses & Ess. (1669), 60.

        Come the eleventh Plague, rather than this should be;
        Come sink us rather in the Sea.

14

1829.  Southey, All for Love, I. xxiv. Though at the eleventh hour Thou hast come to serve our Prince of Power.

15

  b.  with ellipsis of sb.

16

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1013. Þe Iacyngh þe enleuenþe gent.

17

1340.  Ayenb., 14. Þe enlefte is to leve þe lesnesse of zenne.

18

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 2845. Basyn was þe elleuefpe þar ȝe han slawe there.

19

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 78. Þe elleuynt.

20

1552.  Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 51. The levint, quha presumis of thame self ony thing.

21

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 183. The ellewint is continence quhairby we abstein nocht only from meats, bot also from al vickednes.

22

1632.  Sanderson, 12 Serm., 101. At the eleventh.

23

  2.  Eleventh part: one of eleven equal parts into which a quantity may be divided.

24

1797.  Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 402. An increase … from an eleventh to a twentieth part of the whole duty.

25

  † 3.  quasi-adv. in the eleventh place, ELEVENTHLY.

26

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W.), 292 b. Elleuenth, they be mortifyed from all feares, scrupules, and euyll dedes.

27

  † 4.  Music. The interval of an octave and a fourth; a compound fourth. Obs.

28

1597.  T. Morley, Introd. Mus., 70. From Gam ut to D lasolre is a twelfe, although it seeme in common sence but an a Leuenth.

29

  B.  sb. = eleventh part; see A. 2.

30

1557.  Recorde, Whetst., B ij b. Sesquiundecima. 12 to 11: 24 to 22 … | 11/11 | a leuenth more.

31