mid-thirties

[emp0608]

Hi folks,

When I look up the word “mid-thirties” in “The Free Dictionary,” it says: the time of life between 30 and 40. I’d like to know what you think of this definition.

Thanks as always.

emp0608

 

[emsr2d2]

I disagree with it. I would put mid-thirties from around 33 or 34 up to 36 or 37. There's no precise definition but it definitely doesn't cover the entire decade. This sort of problem is exactly why we encourage people to use better dictionaries. Bookmark OneLook.com and use that to find multiple good-quality dictionary definitions.

 

[emp0608]

Thanks emsr2d2. I did check OneLook.com and most of them have the same definition.

 

[5jj]

None of the better dictionaries at one-look.com gives a definition for mid-thirties.

With hyphenated words, it often pays to look up one or both of the parts. Looking up "mid-" gives definitions such as:

used to form nouns or adjectives that refer to the middle part of a particular period of time (Collins)
the middle of a period of time (Macmillan)
denoting the middle of (Oxford)

Several dictionaries give definitions of "thirties" similar to:

The numbers from thirty to thirty-nine, especially the years of a century or of a person's life (Oxford)

 

[jutfrank]

When I look up the word “mid-thirties” in “The Free Dictionary,” it says: the time of life between 30 and 40. I’d like to know what you think of this definition.

I think it's terrible. The time of life between 30 and 40 is your 'thirties', obviously. Your 'mid-thirties' are only the middle part of that decade. Very poor definition.