Definition

Referring to something that costs or is worth ten pennies.

Example

The tenpenny nails are cheaper than the twenty-penny ones.

Conversation

Did you see that old coin I found?

Yeah, I did! Is it worth anything?

I think it's just a tenpenny piece, nothing special.

That's still cool to find, though!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tenpenny → The word originates from Middle English 'tenpenny', which refers to a coin worth ten pennies. The term combines 'ten' (meaning the number 10) and 'penny' (from Old English 'pening', meaning a coin). Thus, 'tenpenny' literally means a coin that is worth ten pennies.

Memory Tip

Think of the number 'ten' combined with 'penny' to remember that 'tenpenny' refers to something worth ten pennies.

Visually Confused Words