The names of the months January and February both conclude with the suffix ‘ary,’ prompting curiosity about their linguistic origins. This shared ending is deeply rooted in Latin etymology and Roman cultural practices.
Etymology of January
January derives from the Latin term ‘Januarius,’ which pertains to Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, transitions, and doorways. Janus is often depicted with two faces, symbolizing his ability to look both forward and backward—a fitting representation for the start of the year. The suffix ‘-arius’ in Latin functions similarly to the English ‘-ary,’ indicating association or connection. Thus, ‘Januarius mensis’ translates to ‘the month of Janus.’
Etymology of February
February’s name traces back to ‘Februarius,’ stemming from ‘Februa,’ an ancient Roman festival dedicated to purification and cleansing, held on the 15th of this month. The festival’s name is believed to be of Sabine origin, and ‘Februa’ signifies purifications or expiatory offerings. Similar to January, the ‘-arius’ suffix denotes association, making ‘Februarius mensis’ mean ‘the month of Februa.’
The Significance of the ‘-Ary’ Suffix
In both ‘Januarius’ and ‘Februarius,’ the ‘-arius’ suffix serves to link the month to a particular deity or festival. This linguistic construction was common in Latin to denote belonging or relation. Over time, as Latin evolved into the Romance languages and influenced English, ‘Januarius’ and ‘Februarius’ were anglicized to ‘January’ and ‘February,’ retaining the ‘-ary’ ending.
FAQ
- Why do January and February end with ‘ary’?
The ‘ary’ ending originates from the Latin suffix ‘-arius,’ used to denote association. ‘Januarius’ and ‘Februarius’ mean ‘pertaining to Janus’ and ‘pertaining to Februa,’ respectively. - Are there other months with similar suffixes?
Yes, other months like March (‘Martius’) and April (‘Aprilis’) also have Latin origins, but their anglicized forms do not retain the ‘-ary’ suffix. - What was the festival of Februa?
Februa was an ancient Roman purification festival held in mid-February, involving rituals aimed at cleansing and purification. - Who was Janus?
Janus was the Roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, and doorways, often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. - How did the Roman calendar influence modern month names?
The Roman calendar’s month names, often derived from deities or festivals, were adopted and adapted through Latin into modern languages, influencing the names we use today.
