TWELVEMONTH Meaning and
Definition
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Twelvemonth is a chiefly British term that refers to a period of twelve months; a year. The word combines the numerical prefix "twelve" with the noun "month," indicating a specific span of time equal to one calendar year.
In its simplest sense, twelvemonth denotes the passage of time from January to December, encompassing all twelve months. It is commonly used as a way of quantifying a fixed duration, often associated with annual events, contractual agreements, financial periods, or historical timelines.
The term "twelvemonth" can also be employed figuratively to convey the idea of a complete cycle or a full course of events. It implies a full revolution of the Earth around the Sun, completing a cycle of seasons and celebrations.
While the word is closely related to "year," it emphasizes the numerical aspect of the duration, highlighting the specific number of twelve months rather than the astronomical time taken for the Earth to orbit the Sun. Therefore, it is used interchangeably with "year" in many contexts.
Overall, twelvemonth serves as a concise and precise way of referring to a fixed period consisting of twelve consecutive months, whether it is for practical, chronological, or symbolic purposes.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for TWELVEMONTH
Etymology of TWELVEMONTH
The word "twelvemonth" is a compound noun formed by combining the word "twelve", derived from the Old English word "twelf", meaning the number 12, and the word "month", derived from the Old English word "monaþ". The Old English word "monaþ" later evolved into the Middle English word "moneth", which eventually became "month" in Modern English. So, "twelvemonth" essentially means "twelve months" and has been used to refer to a year since the 13th century.
Similar spelling word for TWELVEMONTH
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