January
SayJAN-yoo-air-ee/ˈd͡ʒænjuˌɛɹi/AUS/ˈd͡ʒænjʉˌeːɹi/UKJAN-yoo-uh-ree/ˈd͡ʒæn.jʊ.ə.ɹi/
- 1The first month of the Gregorian calendar, falling after December and before February.
The festival takes place every January in the town square.
Retail sales usually dip in January once the holiday rush ends.
UsageSay in January but on a day: on January 5. Written with a capital J.
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Origin
From Middle English Januarie, a re-latinised form of earlier Janevere, borrowed through Anglo-Norman genever from Latin Iānuārius, 'the month of Janus'. This was formed from Iānus ('Janus') plus an adjective ending, with the first part perhaps from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to go'.