First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
October
noun Oc·to·ber \äk-ˈtō-bər\
: the 10th month of the year
Full Definition of OCTOBER
: the 10th month of the Gregorian calendar
See October defined for English-language learners
See October defined for kids
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Origin of OCTOBER
Middle English Octobre, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English October, from Latin, 8th month of the early Roman calendar, from octo; Anglo-French, from Latin October
OCTOBER Defined for Kids
October
noun Oc·to·ber \äk-ˈtō-bər\
Definition of OCTOBER for Kids
: the tenth month of the year
Word History of OCTOBER
The earliest Roman calendar had only ten months and began with the month of March. The eighth month was called in Latin October, a word that combines the number octo, “eight,” with the element -ber found in September, November, and December. The name was kept—and eventually borrowed by English—after October became the tenth of twelve Roman months.
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