ENGLISH
REFERENCE

julian

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdʒuɫiən// ju·lian

adj. relating to the calendar introduced by Julius Caesar. It was used in the West for centuries before the modern Gregorian calendar replaced it.

adj. pertaining to the solar calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Often used in historical or astronomical contexts to distinguish dates from those in the modern Gregorian system.


SIMPLE

The Julian calendar has a leap year every four years.

CONTEXTUAL

Historians must often convert Julian dates to Gregorian ones when studying documents from the sixteenth century.

COMPLEX

While the Gregorian reform corrected the drift of the solar year, some Orthodox churches still observe religious holidays according to the Julian reckoning, resulting in different celebration dates.

Usage

Typically capitalised as it derives from a proper name. Usually precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'calendar', 'year', or 'date'.

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