English
February
February comes from Latin Februārius ‘the month of the Februa’, and goes back to Februa ‘the Purgings, the Purifications’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEFebrua‘the Purgings, the Purifications’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEFebruārius‘the month of the Februa’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Februarie
- Englishearliest quotation 2011February
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEFebrua‘the Purgings, the Purifications’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEFebruārius‘the month of the Februa’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500Februarie
- Englishearliest quotation 2011February
Earliest quotation: 2011, Robert A. Kaster trans. Macrobius, Saturnalia: “...The second he [sc. :Template:w:Numa Pompilius] dedicated to the…”
A compound of februum ‘means of purification, expiatory offerings’ + Februa ‘a festival of purification, celebrated on…’
Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- ‘to burn’
Latin februum ‘means of purification, expiatory offerings’
Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- ‘to burn’
Latin februum ‘means of purification, expiatory offerings’
Latin Februa ‘a festival of purification, celebrated on February 15th’
The story
A relatinization abandoning Middle English feoverel, from Old French feverier, which itself displaced Old English solmōnaþ (‘mud month’).
Every English word from Latin Februa
Today it means
name The short month following January and preceding March in the Roman, Julian, and Gregorian calendars, used in all three calendars for intercalation or addition of leap days.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin Februa / February