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.

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