February
pronunciation
How to pronounce February in British English:
UK [ˈfebruəri]
How to pronounce February in American English:
US [ˈfebrueri]
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- Noun:
- the month following January and preceding March
Word Origin
- February
- February: [13] Etymologically, February is the ‘month of purification’. The word comes via Old French feverier and late Latin febrārius from Latin februārius (English reintroduced the Latin -ruar- spelling in the 14th century). This was a derivative of februa, a word borrowed into Latin from the language of the ancient Sabine people of Italy which was used to designate a festival of purification held on 15 February.
- February (n.)
- late 14c., ultimately from Latin februarius mensis "month of purification," from februare "to purify," from februa "purifications, expiatory rites" (plural of februum "means of purification, expiatory offerings"), which is of uncertain origin, said to be a Sabine word. De Vaan says from Proto-Italic *f(w)esro-, from a PIE word meaning "the smoking" or "the burning" (thus possibly connected with fume (n.)). The sense then could be either purification by smoke or a burnt offering. The last month of the ancient (pre-450 B.C.E.) Roman calendar, so named in reference to the Roman feast of purification, held on the ides of the month. The Old English name for it was solmonað "mud month." English first borrowed the Roman name from Old French Feverier, which yielded Middle English Feverer, Feoverel, etc. (c. 1200) before the 14c. respelling to conform to Latin.
Example
- 1. The rumours were confirmed on february 11th .
- 2. We leave on february 1st in the morning .
- 3. But the context now is february 's israeli elections .
- 4. This was corrected on february 3rd 2011 .
- 5. Picture taken february 12 , 2012 .