october

Definitions

oct (eight) + -ber (a month-name ending) = 'the eighth month.' That sounds wrong — October is the tenth month. But in the old Roman calendar the year began in March, so October really was the eighth. When January and February were added to the front of the year, October slid to tenth, yet kept its 'eighth' name.

Why It Means This

October is the easiest place to see a number root 'lie.' Its name promises the eighth month but delivers the tenth. The fix is historical: Rome's oldest calendar started in March, making October the eighth month. Two later additions — January and February — shoved every later month forward by two, but the old number-names were never updated. September, November, and December are all stuck the same way.

Common Collocations

• 1.month of October十月份
• 2.October weather十月天气
• 3.early October十月初
• 4.in late October十月下旬

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The leaves turn bright red and gold in October.

• 2.

  Their wedding is scheduled for the last weekend of October.

• 3.

  October mornings are crisp and cool here.