First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
December
noun De·cem·ber \di-ˈsem-bər, dē-\
: the 12th and last month of the year
Full Definition of DECEMBER
: the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar
See December defined for English-language learners
See December defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of DECEMBER
Middle English Decembre, from Old English or Anglo-French, both from Latin December (tenth month), from decem ten — more at ten
Rhymes with DECEMBER
DECEMBER Defined for Kids
December
noun De·cem·ber \di-ˈsem-bər\
Definition of DECEMBER for Kids
: the twelfth month of the year
Word History of DECEMBER
The earliest Roman calendar had only ten months and began with the month of March. The tenth and last month was called in Latin December, a word which combines the Latin words for “ten” (decem), “month” (mens), and a final word-forming element -ri-. The name was kept—and eventually borrowed by English—after December became the last of twelve Roman months.
Learn More About DECEMBER
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: DecembristPrevious Word in the Dictionary: decem-All Words Near: December
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up December? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).