sb. and a. [f. as next + -AN.]
A. sb. † 1. A captain of fifty men. Obs. rare.
1569. J. Sanford, trans. Agrippa’s Van. Artes, 130. Moses did then appoint them … Centurians, Quinquagenarians, and Decans.
1609. Bible (Douay), Exod. xviii. 21. Centurions, and quinquagenarians, and deanes.
2. A person aged fifty; or between fifty and sixty.
1843. New Mirror (cited in Cent. Dict.).
B. adj. † 1. Commanding fifty men. Obs. rare.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 356. Two Quinquagenarian Captains.
1629. Mabbe, trans. Fonseca’s Devout Contempl., 592. One Elias consumed with fire, Ahabs Quinquagenarian Captaines, and their souldiers.
2. Of fifty years of age; characteristic of one who is fifty years old.
1822. New Monthly Mag., V. 46. The quinquagenarian bachelor.
1848. Clough, Amours de Voy., II. 141. The trembling Quinquagenarian fears of two lone British spinsters.
