February

views updated Jun 08 2018

February the second month of the year in the northern hemisphere, usually considered the last month of winter. The name is recorded from Middle English (in form feverer), and comes via Old French from Latin februarius, from februa, the name of a purification feast held in this month. The spelling change in the 15th century was due to association with the Latin word.
February fill dyke be it black or be it white February is a month likely to bring heavy rain (black) or snow (white). The saying is recorded from the mid 16th century.
February Revolution the first phase of the Russian Revolution.
if in February there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain a drought in February will be damaging to crops later in the year. The saying is recorded from the early 18th century.

February

views updated May 29 2018

Feb·ru·ar·y / ˈfeb(y)oōˌerē; ˈfebroō-/ • n. (pl. -ar·ies) the second month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of winter: [as adj.] a freezing February morning.

February

views updated Jun 11 2018

February XIII. The earliest recorded forms are feouereles (repr. as late as XVI. by feverell) and feouerreres moneð; — OF. feverier (mod. février) :- late L. (Rom.) febrārius, for L. februārius, f. februa n. pl. Roman festival of purification held on 15 February. The ME. type feverer is repr. as late as XVIII by (partially latinized) februeer; the present fully latinized form (februari) is found XIV.