Word of the Day

August

August 16, 2021

august

au-gust / ô-gŭst as an adjective; ô-gəst as a noun

adjective 1. majestic; marked by grandeur; respected The august and mellow University, soaked with the richness of the western counties that it has served for a thousand years, appealed at once to the boy's taste: it was the kind of thing he could understand, and he understood it all the better because it was empty.  From “Howards End” by E. M. Forster, 1879 – 1970 2. respected; distinguished Hardly a name in profane history is more august than his.(referring to Christopher Columbus),  Justin Winsor, 1831 - 1897 noun 1. August, the eighth month of the year, having 31 days, it follows July and precedes September August rain brings oil, honey and must.  Sicilian Proverb etymology Derived, as an adjective, from the Latin adjective augustus, augusta, augustum (sacred, revered, majestic, noble), which is derived from the root of the Latin verb augeo, augere, auxi, auctum (increase, enlarge, multiply. enrich, exalt). As the name of the eighth month of the Western calendar, August comes from the title "Augustus," (Revered), which the Roman Senate bestowed upon Julius Caesar's imperial heir, Octavian. Since the senators had named the previous month "Julius" in honor of Julius Caesar, they honored his successor, Augustus, by changing the name of the month after July to "Augustus."  Thank you to Allen Ward for providing the etymologies for august and August.
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