Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for august

august

1

[ aw-guhst ]

adjective

  1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic:

    an august performance of a religious drama.

  2. an august personage.



August

2

[ aw-guhst ]

noun

  1. the eighth month of the year, containing 31 days. : Aug.
  2. a first name, form of Augustus.

August

1

/ ˈɔːɡəst /

noun

  1. the eighth month of the year, consisting of 31 days
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


august

2

/ ɔːˈɡʌst /

adjective

  1. dignified or imposing

    an august presence

  2. of noble birth or high rank

    an august lineage

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • auˈgustness, noun
  • auˈgustly, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

  • au·gustly adverb
  • au·gustness noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of august1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, Middle French auguste, from Latin augustus “sacred, grand,” akin to augēre “to increase” and augur 1( def ); eke 1

Origin of august2

before 1100; Middle English < Latin Augustus (named after Augustus. ); replacing Old English Agustus < Latin, as above
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of august1

Old English, from Latin, named after the emperor Augustus

Origin of august2

C17: from Latin augustus; related to augēre to increase
Discover More

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, these claims have been a staple of news reporting for years, even by some of most august news organizations.

Greenberger’s warning about this scenario had been endorsed by no less august a figure than former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker.

From Salon

The august Senate — at least on the Republican side — is becoming more like its chaotic counterpart across the Rotunda every day.

Though relatively inexperienced in opera, he left in 2002 to become music director of the august Vienna State Opera, where he stayed until 2010.

But they must also be able to deal with a host of problems affecting the august institution, which is the world’s third most visited museum.

Advertisement

Discover More

More About August

What is August?

August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and is between July and September.

In the Northern Hemisphere August is known as a middle month of the summer season. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is a middle month of the winter season.

Among the holidays that happen in August are several independence days. August 1 is Benin’s and Switzterland’s, August 13 is the Central African Republic’s, and August 24 is Ukraine’s, to name just a few.

As an adjective, august describes something or someone who is majestic or who inspires admiration, as in Playing the part of the queen, Pramila wore an august crown that could be seen from the back row.

Example: I get the back-to-school blues as soon as August begins.

Where does August come from?

The first records of the word August referring to the month come from before 1100. It ultimately comes from the Latin mēnsis Augustus, meaning “Augustus’s month,” referring to Augustus Caesar.

The Roman calendar consisted of 10 months. When Julius Caesar took control of Rome, he changed the length of some months and added new ones because January was falling in autumn due to the calendar’s inaccuracies. He added Quintilis, later to become July (named after Julius), and Sextilis, which would later become August (named after Augustus Caesar). Our Gregorian calendar is based on this Julius calendar.

Much like April, May, and June, August is a common given name. It is typically a man’s first name.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to August?

  • Aug. (abbreviation)
  • augustly (adverb)
  • augustness (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with August?

What are some words that often get used in discussing August?

How is August used in real life?

The month of August is known for its patriotic holidays in several countries.

 

Try using August!

True or False? 

The month of August is named after the Roman leader Augustus Caesar.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


auguryAugusta