nine n. in a percentage between 99 and 100, a place on either side of the decimal point given a value of nine and counted in serial to indicate a number very near 100 percent, such as in measurements of reliability, accuracy, purity, etc. Editorial Note: Common forms are five nines, meaning 99.999%, and six nines, meaning 99.9999%. Also used attributively: the company offers five-nines reliability guarantees. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A hundred years ago, suffragists lobbied to win women the right to vote. Linguistically speaking, though, suffrage isn’t about “suffering.” It’s from a Latin word that involves voting. Plus: military cadences often include...
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...