octennial

American  

[ok-ten-ee-uhl] / ɒkˈtɛn i əl /

adjective

1. occurring every eight years.

2. of or for eight years.

---

octennial British  

/ ɒkˈtɛnɪəl /

adjective

1. occurring every eight years

2. lasting for eight years

---

Other Word Forms

• octennially adjective

Etymology

Origin of octennial

1650–60; < Late Latin octenni ( um ) eight-year period ( oct- oct- + -enn-, combining form of annus year + -ium -ium ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

And for the ancient octennial Pythian games see Demetrius of Phalerum in Eustathius ad Od. γ'. p.

From The History and Antiquities of the Doric Race, Vol. 1 of 2 by Müller, Karl Otfried

Now an octennial cycle is the shortest period at the end of which sun and moon really mark time together after overlapping, so to say, throughout the whole of the interval.

From The Golden Bough by Frazer, James George, Sir

But the octennial solemnity in honor of the god included at first no other competition except that of bards, who sang each a pæan with the harp.

From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01 by Rudd, John