leap-year

(lép’yér), n. [ in AS.) (= Icel. hlaup-ar), leap-year (cf. D. *schrikkeljaar, MD. schrickeljaer, lit. ‘leap-year’ ( It. anno bises tile, Pg. anno bi exto, Sp. aito bisiesto, F. année bi extile), a year containing a second sixth day (se. before the calends of March) (see bi extile).] A year containing 366 days, or one day more than an ordinary year; a bi extile year. See bi extile. The exact reason of the name is unknown; but it probably arose from the fact that any date in such a year after the added day (February 29th) “leaps over” the day of the week on which it would fall in ordinary years: thus, if March ist falls on Monday in one year, it will fall on Tuesday in the next if that is an ordinary year of 365 days, but on Wednesday if it is a leap-year. lear! (lér), v. [Early mod. E. also leer, lere;