Ten (?), n.

1. The number greater by one than nine; the sum of five and five; ten units of objects.

"I will not destroy it for tens sake." Gen. xviii. 32.

2. A symbol representing ten units, as 10, x, or X.

Ten (?), a. [AS. tēn, tién, t?n, tēne; akin to OFries. tian, OS. tehan, D. tien, G. zehn, OHG. zehan, Icel. tīu, Sw. tio, Dan. ti, Goth. taíhun, Lith. deszimt, Russ. desiate, W. deg, Ir. & Gael. deich, L. decem, Gr. ?, Skr. daçan. √308. Cf. Dean, Decade, Decimal, December, Eighteen, Eighty, Teens, Tithe.] One more than nine; twice five.

With twice ten sail I crossed the Phrygian Sea. Dryden.

☞ Ten is often used, indefinitely, for several, many, and other like words.

"There s proud modesty in merit, Averse from begging, and resolved to payTen times the gift it asks." Dryden.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913