february

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Feb=ru=ar=y

CIDE DICTIONARY

february, n. [L. Februarius, orig., the month of expiation, because on the fifteenth of this month the great feast of expiation and purification was held, fr. februa, pl., the Roman festival or purification; akin to februare to purify, expiate.].

 The second month in the year, said to have been introduced into the Roman calendar by Numa. In common years this month contains twenty-eight days; in the bissextile, or leap year, it has twenty-nine days.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

february, n. (pl. -ies) the second month of the year.

Etymology

ME f. OF feverier ult. f. L februarius f. februa a purification feast held in this month