Anniversary

[Stealthfart]

A very good friend of mine said 'five year anniversary' last night. An intelligent, educated friend. I can't stop thinking about it today. Not sure if we have reached the end of the road...

A pedantry too far, I think, OP. The word "anniversary" is fast moving beyond its etymology.

Should it be '5th anniversary' ?

Ok, I will try to forgive her and move on. And yes it is 5th anniversary

I suspect there are many people who simply don't know the root of the word.

And who weren't the right age to read the Jilly Cooper teen books (which went round girls in the 70s/80s) - in one they tease a character for using the word to refer to a period of weeks, and suggest 'weekiversaries' instead.

I work with someone who uses mensaversary (I had to look it up first time I saw it)