Discussions about eggcorns and related topics
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Chris -- 2025-05-10
Google hits on July 3, 2010
657,000 – Umpteenth
4540 – Someteenth
Analysis by Joe Krozel
One online source offers this about the etymology of umpteenth:
[Slang ump(ty), dash in Morse code (of imitative origin) + -teen (as in thirteen).]
“Someteenth” might have come into existence in a number of ways…
A straight-ahead mishearing of “umpteenth”—which qualifies as an eggcorn;
A hypercorrection of “umpteenth” since the meaning of “ump” is lost on most;
An intentional blend of “something” and ”-teen.”
Examples:
What’s the worst punishment you’ve ever received? – Giant BombMay 18, 2009 … After being caught skipping school for the some-teenth time by my parents (both of whom are teachers) my punishment was to return to school …
www.giantbomb.com/forums/off-topic/31/.../243230/ – Cached – Similar
Tenth Issue-versary!!ok, party people. get ready to give up for my little girl on her sweet someteenth birthday… and remember, if youre looking for low prices on used and …
www.homestarrunner.com/tgs10.html – Cached – Similar
» David vs Goliath II: Jeremy Lin vs Jerome Dyson Poor Man’s …Dec 4, 2009… were rushing the field at Berkeley as the Golden Bears had upset a someteenth-ranked Arizona — in the middle of the Pacquiao fight. ...
www.dreamleague.org/.../david-vs-goliat … ome-dyson/ – Cached
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My feeling is that these are mostly intentional blends, collating “some” and “teen(th).”
Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.
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