How would you explain “five-and-thirty” in the last sentence?
His face had undergone only tiny changes that had nevertheless worked a complete transformation. The black eyebrows were less bushy, the wrinkles were gone, the whole lines of the face seemed to have altered; even the nose seemed shorter. It was the alert, cold face of a man of about five-and-thirty.

How would you explain “five-and-thirty” in the last sentence?
Thanks!

Question

How would you explain “five-and-thirty” in the last sentence?
His face had undergone only tiny changes that had nevertheless worked a complete transformation. The black eyebrows were less bushy, the wrinkles were gone, the whole lines of the face seemed to have altered; even the nose seemed shorter. It was the alert, cold face of a man of about five-and-thirty.

How would you explain “five-and-thirty” in the last sentence?
Thanks!

Answer

It is just a poetic way to say that the man appears to be about 35 years old… :)

Answer

interesting:)

Answer

Yes a bit old fashioned. My mum says five and twenty to six instead of twenty five to six when telling the time.

Non perdere l'opportunità di imparare una lingua comodamente da casa tua. Esplora la nostra selezione di insegnanti di lingue esperti e iscriviti subito alla tua prima lezione!