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Webster 1913 Edition


Bissextile

Bis-sex′tile

,
Noun.
[L.
bissextilis
annus, fr.
bissextus
(
bis
+
sextus
sixth, fr.
sex
six) the sixth of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year, by the intercalation of a day.]
Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365 d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But one day added every four years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more than the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress the bissextile day at the end of every century which is not divisible by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible by 400.

Bis-sex′tile

,
Adj.
Pertaining to leap year.

Webster 1828 Edition


Bissextile

BISSEX'TILE

,
Noun.
[L.bissextilis, leap year, from bissextus, [bis and sextus] the sixth of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year, by the interrelation of a day.]
Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of February, on account of the excess of 6 hours, which the
civil year contains, above 365 days. This excess is 11 minutes 3 seconds too much; that is, it exceeds the real year, or annual revolution of the earth. Hence at the end of every century,divisible by 4, it is necessary to retain the bissextile day, and to suppress it at the end of those centuries which are not divisible by 4.

BISSEX'TILE

,
Adj.
Pertaining to the leap year.

Definition 2024


bissextile

bissextile

English

Adjective

bissextile (comparative more bissextile, superlative most bissextile)

  1. Having an extra day (of a leap year).

Translations

Derived terms

Noun

bissextile (plural bissextiles)

  1. A leap year; A year having an extra day.

Translations

See also


French

Adjective

bissextile

  1. feminine singular of bissextil