Month

(mu nth.) [A. S. mo nath.] (Calendar.) The twelfth part of a year; otherwise called a calendar month, to distinguish it from the astronomical, which is either solar or lunar. (See LUNAR MONTH, .) The Romans used lunar months, making them alternately of 29 and 30 days; and they marked the days of each month by three terms, viz., calends, nones, and ides. A civil or common month consists of a certain number of days, according to the laws and customs of the different countries in which it is used; either having no regard to the solar or lunar month, as those of the Egyptians in their equal year, of the Romans in the year of Romulus, ., or coming pretty near to the solar astronomical month, as the Julian.-There are twelve solar months and thirteen lunar months in the year. In popular language, four weeks are called a month, that space of time being nearly the length of the lunar month. [s. 615]