Jan·u·ar·y
 January
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- pronunciation:
- jaen
yu
eI
ri
- features:
- Word History
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
Januaries |
| definition: |
the first month of the Gregorian calendar year, having thirty-one days.
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The word
January was formed from the Latin word
Janus, the name of a Roman god of gates and beginnings. In Roman art, Janus has two faces, one looking back and one looking forward. The month of January is like Janus; it looks back at the old year and forward to the year to come.