Word
february
Phoneticsfeb·ru·ary
/ˈfɛbjəˌwɛɹi/
Definition
n. the second month of the year. It is the shortest month, usually with 28 days, but it has 29 days in a leap year.
n. The second month of the Gregorian calendar, having 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years.
Examples
“My birthday is in February.”
“February is often the coldest month of the year in this region.”
“The short, often bleak days of February can feel endless, but they hold the first quiet promise of spring's eventual return.”
Examples
simple
“My birthday is in February.”
contextual
“February is often the coldest month of the year in this region.”
complex
“The short, often bleak days of February can feel endless, but they hold the first quiet promise of spring's eventual return.”
Usage
As a proper noun, 'February' is always capitalized.
Pitfall
Febuary
February
The first 'r' is often silent in casual speech, leading to spelling errors. Learners should remember to include it in writing.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ-der. Latin februum Latin Februa Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -arius Latin Februāriusder. Middle English Februarie English February From Middle English Februarie, februari, februare, from Latin Februārius (“the month of the Februa”), from Februa (“the Purgings, the Purifications”), a Roman holiday two days after its ides (i.e., Feb. 15), + -arius (“-ary: forming adjectives”). Februa from februum (“purging”), from an earlier Sabine [Term?] word, possibly from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- (“smoke, haze”) and thus cognate with thio- (“sulfurous”) and Ancient Greek θεῖον (theîon, “sulfur”) or from Proto-Indo-European dʰegʷʰris, an extension of the root *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn”) and thus cognate with fever and febris. A relatinization abandoning Middle English feoverel, from Old French feverier, which itself displaced Old English solmōnaþ (“mud month”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.