intercalary

[ in-tur-kuh-ler-ee, in-ter-kal-uh-ree ]

adjective

1. inserted or interpolated in the calendar, as an extra day or month; intercalated.
2. having such an inserted day, month, etc., as a particular year.
3. inserted or introduced between other things or parts; interpolated; interposed.

intercalary

/ ɪnˈtɜːkələrɪ /

adjective

1. (of a day, month, etc) inserted in the calendar
2. (of a particular year) having one or more days inserted
3. inserted, introduced, or interpolated
4. botany growing between the upper branches and the lower branches or bracts on a stem

Derived Forms

• inˈtercalarily, adverb

Other Words From

• in·terca·lari·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of intercalary¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin intercalārius, equivalent to intercal(āre) “to intercalate ” + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of intercalary¹

C17: from Latin intercalārius; see intercalate

Example Sentences

But all this — this gripping story about the outrages endured on a pre-Civil War Georgia farm — appears only in the intercalary chapters, or “Songs,” as Jeffers calls them.

From Washington Post

The reflection between Sarat’s private ordeal and the country’s vast, ongoing calamity is sustained by a series of intercalary chapters: excerpts from history books, news reports, memoirs and speeches.

From Washington Post

Calendar buffs may call this process “intercalation” and the extra 13th month an “intercalary” month.

From Time

Veadar, vē′a-dar, n. the name of the intercalary or thirteenth month of the Jewish year, which must have been inserted about every third year.

From Project Gutenberg

It is probable that he was the author of the law which left it to the discretion of the pontiffs to insert or omit the intercalary month of the year.

From Project Gutenberg