bissextile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / Archaic / TechnicalFormal, Historical, Technical (Chronology, Calendrics)
Quick answer
What does “bissextile” mean?
Relating to or being a leap year.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or being a leap year.
Specifically, the extra day (February 29) inserted into the calendar in a leap year, stemming from the historical practice of doubling the sixth day before the Kalends of March in the Roman calendar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The word is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, archaic, scholarly.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties; likely encountered only in historical texts or very specific academic works.
Grammar
How to Use “bissextile” in a Sentence
The [bissextile year] of 2024The [day] was a bissextileVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bissextile” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The next bissextile year will be 2028.
American English
- Ancient astronomers developed rules for bissextile years.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, calendrical, or liturgical studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'leap year' is standard.
Technical
Precise term in chronology for a year containing the intercalary day.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bissextile”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bissextile”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bissextile”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈbaɪsɛkstaɪl/.
- Using it in everyday speech instead of 'leap year'.
- Spelling: 'bisextile' (missing one 's').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an adjective meaning 'relating to a leap year,' or a noun referring to the leap day itself. It is an archaic, technical term.
Always use 'leap year' in modern spoken and written English. 'Bissextile' is for highly specialised academic or historical writing.
From Latin 'bissextilis (dies)', meaning 'the doubled sixth day,' referring to how February 24th was counted twice in the Roman leap year.
Yes. It is equally rare, formal, and technical in both varieties, with no notable differences in meaning or usage.
Relating to or being a leap year.
Bissextile is usually formal, historical, technical (chronology, calendrics) in register.
Bissextile: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈsɛkstʌɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /baɪˈsɛkstəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BIS' (twice) + 'SEXTILE' (related to six). It refers to the 'sixth day' being doubled in the old Roman calendar to create the leap day.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURED ENTITY (requiring occasional correction/adjustment).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bissextile' most appropriately used?