Which-th?

[LaRascasse]

Is there an actual English word having the intended meaning as which-th/whicheth?

For example,

Q: Tobias is which-th heir to the throne?

A: He is sixth in line.

I know the question can technically be reframed to "Where does Tobias rank amongst all the heirs to the throne?" but that seems too odd.

I'm just curious here, because this does seem like too useful a word not to exist, and yet I can't think of any that fit exactly.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't think that word exists.

You could make the awkward line shorter.

"How far removed from the throne is Tobias?"

"He is sixth in line of succession"

 

[LaRascasse]

I don't think that word exists.

You could make the awkward line shorter.

"How far removed from the throne is Tobias?"

"He is sixth in line of succession"

It's not so much that particular question, but the word that I'm looking for. Other similar questions could have even more awkward versions which are grammatically correct.

 

[oggbashan]

"What is he in line?"

Or "Where is he in the succession?"

 

[oggbashan]

It's not so much that particular question, but the word that I'm looking for. Other similar questions could have even more awkward versions which are grammatically correct.

What/Which number is he?

You could add 'ordinal' before number.

 

[3113]

Q: Tobias is which-th heir to the throne?

A: He is sixth in line.

Ooops. I see I originally misunderstood the question. Edited answer (this) is still, alas, no.

All you'd be able to say is: "Where is tobias in the succession?"

Answer: "He's sixth in line."

 

[LaRascasse]

I'm more curious because in the two other languages I know natively (Hindi and Bengali), there is a word exactly for this.

 

[sr71plt]

I suggest just writing around it--unless someone comes up with the perfect word that has been eluding us. I can't think of a word that will do in that construction.

 

[MSTarot]

Is there an actual English word having the intended meaning as which-th/whicheth?

For example,

Q: Tobias is which-th heir to the throne?

A: He is sixth in line.

I know the question can technically be reframed to "Where does Tobias rank amongst all the heirs to the throne?" but that seems too odd.

I'm just curious here, because this does seem like too useful a word not to exist, and yet I can't think of any that fit exactly.

To me it has a very old world sound to it. "To which-th though go the farthest, so shall thus a prize be given."


If the words selfie and twerk can make their way in this word feel free to use any word you wish.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Is there an actual English word having the intended meaning as which-th/whicheth?

For example,

Q: Tobias is which-th heir to the throne?

A: He is sixth in line.

I know the question can technically be reframed to "Where does Tobias rank amongst all the heirs to the throne?" but that seems too odd.

I'm just curious here, because this does seem like too useful a word not to exist, and yet I can't think of any that fit exactly.

Yeah, it's odd that English hasn't "borrowed" a word for this considering our usual habits. If I was talking to mathematicians I'd ask "What is the value of n, where Tobias is the n-th heir to the throne?" but that's not really what you're after.

I'd have to recast it as something like "where does Tobias stand in the succession?"

 

[robertreams]

In all my readings and writings and research from Middle English to present, I have never run into such a word. To have such a word would be useful, but in English it would require a vowel of some sort. (I know, I know there is always "nth", but really?

 

[NoJo]

Is there an actual English word having the intended meaning as which-th/whicheth?

For example,

Q: Tobias is which-th heir to the throne?

A: He is sixth in line.

I know the question can technically be reframed to "Where does Tobias rank amongst all the heirs to the throne?" but that seems too odd.

I'm just curious here, because this does seem like too useful a word not to exist, and yet I can't think of any that fit exactly.

I tried saying it and my screen ended up covered in saliva. Thanks.

 

[patientlee]

Did you try http://www.wordreference.com? You might find something in the forum there.