how was it that two weeks is called a fortnight.?

Answer 1

~~ A fortnight is a unit of time equal to two weeks: that is 14 days, or literally 14 nights. The term is common in the British Isles and many Commonwealth countries, but rarely used in the United States.

~~ It derives from the Old English feowertiene niht, meaning "fourteen nights".

Answer 2

14 nights.

A fortnight is a unit of time equal to two weeks: that is 14 days, or literally 14 nights. The term is common in the British Isles and many Commonwealth countries, but rarely used in the United States. It derives from the Old English feowertiene niht, meaning "fourteen nights".

Answer 3

Fortnight is short for fourteen nights. The significance of the two weeks is that it is the waxing or waning cycle of the moon. Before we had electric lights, the cycles of the moon were very noticeable and considered to be of great significance. After all, the moon affects the sea, which is important for fishermen etc, women also have a four week cycle. It was also believed that the moon governed vegetative growth, so Farmers should plant crops during the waxing stage of the moon. Bad magic should always be made during the waning part of the cycle.

Answer 4

1 week is equivalent to 7 days.
2 weeks are equivalent to 14 days.
14 days can also mean fortnight because fortnight simple means a period of 14 days/2 weeks.

Answer 5

As has been said it is a contraction of 'fourteen nights'. In England the expression 'sen'night' was also used meaning a week, or 'sevennights'. That hasn't lasted whilst, for some reason, the other has.

Answer 6

because a fort has 14 poles to support it