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October

[ ok-toh-ber ]
/ ɒkˈtoʊ bər /
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noun
the tenth month of the year, containing 31 days. Abbreviation: Oct.
British. ale or beer traditionally brewed in this month.
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Origin of October

before 1050; Middle English, Old English <Latin Octōber the eighth month of the early Roman year, equivalent to octō-octo- + -ber, on the model of September, November, December;see December
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT OCTOBER

What is October?

October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and is between September and November.

In the Northern Hemisphere October is known as a middle month of the autumn season, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a middle month of the spring season.

Many countries around the world celebrate Halloween, which is on October 31. It’s so popular that much of the month is devoted to spooky things. Halloween is celebrated differently from country to country, with nations like the United States and Canada practicing in trick-or-treating and hosting Halloween-themed parties. Other nations, like Japan and Ireland, celebrate with parades and public gatherings.

Other holidays celebrated in October include Día de los Muertos and Oktoberfest. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that celebrates those who have died. In Germany, Oktoberfest celebrates the craft of beer making, running from late September to early October.

Example: October is such a spooky month, especially when the trees lose their leaves.

Where does October come from?

The first records of the word October come from before 1050. It ultimately comes from the Latin Octōber, meaning “eighth month.”

In the 10-month Roman calendar, which started with March, October was the eighth month. When Julius Caesar took control of Rome, he changed the length of some months and added new ones because January was falling in autumn due to the calendar’s inaccuracies. He added Quintilis, later to become July (named after Julius), and Sextilis, which would later become August (named after Augustus Caesar). This is how October went from being the eight month to the tenth. Our Gregorian calendar is based on this Julius calendar.

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What are some other forms related to October?

  • Oct. (abbreviation)

What are some words that share a root or word element with October

What are some words that often get used in discussing October?

How is October used in real life?

Many nations celebrate Halloween in October, so they see it as a “spooky” month.

 

Try using October!

True or False? 

October is named after the Latin word for eight.

How to use October in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for October

October
/ (ɒkˈtəʊbə) /

noun
the tenth month of the year, consisting of 31 days

Word Origin for October

Old English, from Latin, from octo eight, since it was the eighth month in Roman reckoning
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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