Bissextile

C2 8+

Pronunciation: /bɪˈsɛkstaɪl/

Definitions of bissextile

noun a leap year

Example Sentences

A1 A bissextile year has an extra day in February.

A2 In a bissextile year, February has 29 days instead of 28.

B1 People born on February 29 celebrate their birthdays only in bissextile years.

B2 The concept of a bissextile year was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC.

C1 The rules for determining a bissextile year have been refined over centuries.

C2 Astronomers and mathematicians study the patterns of bissextile years in depth.

adjective relating to a leap year, especially one with 366 days

Example Sentences

A1 A bissextile year has an extra day in February.

A2 In a bissextile year, February has 29 days instead of 28.

B1 Leap years are also known as bissextile years due to the extra day in February.

B2 The concept of a bissextile year was introduced by Julius Caesar in the Julian calendar reform.

C1 Astronomers use complex calculations to determine when a year should be bissextile in order to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year.

C2 The rules for determining a bissextile year are based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun and the length of a tropical year.

Examples of bissextile in a Sentence

formal The year 2020 was a bissextile year, also known as a leap year.

informal Hey, did you know 2020 is a bissextile year? That means we get an extra day in February!

slang 2026 is gonna be a bissextile year, so we get an extra day to party!

figurative Just like a bissextile year, sometimes we need an extra day to catch up on things in life.

Grammatical Forms of bissextile

past tense

bissextiled

plural

bissextiles

comparative

more bissextile

superlative

most bissextile

present tense

bissextiles

future tense

will bissextile

perfect tense

has bissextiled

continuous tense

is bissextiling

singular

bissextile

positive degree

bissextile

infinitive

to bissextile

gerund

bissextiling

participle

bissextiled

Origin and Evolution of bissextile

First Known Use: 1582 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'bissextile' originated from Latin, specifically from the phrase 'annus bissextus' which means 'leap year'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'bissextile' became associated with leap years in the Gregorian calendar, which occur every four years to account for the extra time it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun. The term has remained consistent in its usage to refer to leap years.