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October

ok-TOH-ber · noun

Proto-Indo-EuropeanLatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Origin

October comes from Middle English, borrowed from Old French octobre, from Latin Octōber, meaning 'eighth month,' built from octō ("eight") plus the adjectival suffix -ber.

Journey

In the old Roman calendar, October really was the eighth month; when the calendar shifted and two months were added earlier in the year, October slid to tenth place but kept its original, now-mismatched name.

Related words

The octō at its root is the same 'eight' found in words like octagon and octopus, linking this month to anything built on that ancient number.

More words

From Proto-Indo-European

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