month
month
Pronunciation
Month: /mʌnθ/
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal consonant
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal consonant
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative consonant
Word Form Variations
Singular: month
Plural: months
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
month (plural: months)
A period of approximately 30 or 31 days, based on the lunar cycle or arbitrarily defined by calendar systems, typically representing one-twelfth of a year.
Synonyms: lunar cycle (less common in general usage, but technically accurate), calendar period
Antonyms: year (as a whole, not a constituent part), week (a shorter period)
A specific named period within a calendar year, such as January, February, etc.
Synonyms: calendar division, period
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific type of period)
Examples of Use
Books: "The entire family gathered at the lake house for a month every summer, a tradition that stretched back generations." (Example from a fictional narrative consistent with common book usage)
Newspapers: "Economists predict that inflation will continue to rise for at least another month before showing signs of stabilization." ( The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications: "Our new series, 'Cooking Through the Seasons,' will feature a different seasonal ingredient each month, starting with asparagus in April." ( Bon Appétit online)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television: "Next month on streaming, 'Dragon's Hoard' returns for its highly anticipated third season." (Promotional announcement for a streaming service)
Film: "The movie grossed over $100 million in its first month of release, a record for the studio." (Film industry news)
Music: "This month's top hits include several breakout artists from the independent music scene." (Music review blog)
Video Games: "The latest patch for 'Chronicles of Eldoria' is expected to drop early next month, bringing new quests and character abilities." (Video game news site)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm really looking forward to my vacation next month." (Casual conversation)
"It's been a tough month at work, but we finally hit our sales targets." (Workplace discussion)
"Have you seen the weather forecast for next month? It looks like we're in for a heatwave." (Everyday conversation about current events)
10 Quotes Using Month
"There are twelve months in a year, but only one June." (Henry David Thoreau)
"I have been to a month of Sundays." (Old English proverb)
"No one rises to the occasion of a month-long diet." (Erma Bombeck)
"It takes one month to get a new habit, and a lifetime to keep it." (Proverb)
"A gentleman is a man who can disagree without being disagreeable for a month of Sundays." (Unknown)
"This is the first month of spring, and the last of winter." (Bangambiki Habyarimana)
"You don't get married in a month. You don't build a career in a month." (Patience Jonathan)
"My new month resolution is to start a new bad habit every month." (Unknown)
"The first month is always the hardest." (Often said in contexts like starting a new job or sobriety)
"A month in the country is worth a year in the city." (Proverb)
Etymology
The word "month" has a very ancient and intuitive origin. It comes from the idea of measuring time by the moon's cycle.
Essentially, "month" and "moon" are very closely related words, sharing the same root. The word "month" ultimately traces back to an old Proto-Germanic word, *menoth-, which itself comes from an even older Proto-Indo-European root, *mḗh₁n̥s, meaning "moon" or "month." This connection makes perfect sense because, for early humans, the most obvious way to track time longer than a day was by observing the phases of the moon.
The first known use and meaning of "month" in English date back to the Old English period (before 1150 AD). At that time, it already referred to a measure of time that corresponded closely to the period of the moon's revolution, or roughly about four weeks or 30 days. So, right from its earliest appearance in English, the core meaning of "month" as a lunar-based unit of time has remained consistent.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Month
A month of Sundays: A very long time.
Next month: Referring to the calendar month immediately following the current one.
Last month: Referring to the calendar month immediately preceding the current one.
Month by month: Gradually, one month at a time.
From month to month: On a recurring monthly basis.
The turn of the month: The transition from one month to the next.
Early/mid/late month: Referring to a specific period within a given month.
Month-long: Lasting for the duration of one month.
Month's end: The conclusion of a calendar month.
Paid by the month: Receiving salary or wages on a monthly schedule.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of month from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
