Feb·ru·ar·y
February
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- pronunciation:
- fe
bru
eI
ri
- features:
- Word History
part of speech: |
noun |
inflections: |
Februaries |
definition: |
the second month of the Gregorian calendar year, usu. having twenty-eight days, but having one additional day every leap, or fourth, year.
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February comes from a Latin name for the month,
februarius mensis, which means "month of the Februa festival."
Februa was a Roman festival of purification celebrated in February. In English, the month has been called "February" since 1200. Before that, February was called by an Old English name that meant "mud month."