month

month
    n 1: one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year; "he paid
         the bill last month" [syn: {calendar month}, {month}]
    2: a time unit of approximately 30 days; "he was given a month
       to pay the bill"
    

Sidereal \Si*de"re*al\, a. [L. sidereus, from sidus, sideris, a
   constellation, a star. Cf. {Sideral}, {Consider}, {Desire}.]
   1. Relating to the stars; starry; astral; as, sidereal
      astronomy.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Astron.) Measuring by the apparent motion of the stars;
      designated, marked out, or accompanied, by a return to the
      same position in respect to the stars; as, the sidereal
      revolution of a planet; a sidereal day.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Sidereal clock}, {day}, {month}, {year}. See under {Clock},
      {Day}, etc.

   {Sideral time}, time as reckoned by sideral days, or, taking
      the sidereal day as the unit, the time elapsed since a
      transit of the vernal equinox, reckoned in parts of a
      sidereal day. This is, strictly, apparent sidereal time,
      mean sidereal time being reckoned from the transit, not of
      the true, but of the mean, equinoctial point.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Month \Month\ (m[u^]nth), n. [OE. month, moneth, AS.
   m[=o]n[eth], m[=o]na[eth]; akin to m[=o]na moon, and to D.
   maand month, G. monat, OHG. m[=a]n[=o]d, Icel. m[=a]nu[eth]r,
   m[=a]na[eth]r, Goth. m[=e]n[=o][thorn]s. [root]272. See
   {Moon}.]
   One of the twelve portions into which the year is divided;
   the twelfth part of a year, corresponding nearly to the
   length of a synodic revolution of the moon, -- whence the
   name. In popular use, a period of four weeks is often called
   a month.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: In the common law, a month is a lunar month, or
         twenty-eight days, unless otherwise expressed.
         --Blackstone. In the United States the rule of the
         common law is generally changed, and a month is
         declared to mean a calendar month. --Cooley's
         Blackstone.
         [1913 Webster]

   {A month mind}.
   (a) A strong or abnormal desire. [Obs.] --Shak.
   (b) A celebration made in remembrance of a deceased person a
       month after death. --Strype.

   {Calendar months}, the months as adjusted in the common or
      Gregorian calendar; April, June, September, and November,
      containing 30 days, and the rest 31, except February,
      which, in common years, has 28, and in leap years 29.

   {Lunar month}, the period of one revolution of the moon,
      particularly a synodical revolution; but several kinds are
      distinguished, as the {synodical month}, or period from
      one new moon to the next, in mean length 29 d. 12 h. 44 m.
      2.87 s.; the {nodical month}, or time of revolution from
      one node to the same again, in length 27 d. 5 h. 5 m. 36
      s.; the {sidereal}, or time of revolution from a star to
      the same again, equal to 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 11.5 s.; the
      {anomalistic}, or time of revolution from perigee to
      perigee again, in length 27 d. 13 h. 18 m. 37.4 s.; and
      the {tropical}, or time of passing from any point of the
      ecliptic to the same again, equal to 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 4.7
      s.

   {Solar month}, the time in which the sun passes through one
      sign of the zodiac, in mean length 30 d. 10 h. 29 m. 4.1
      s.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Month
Among the Egyptians the month of thirty days each was in use
long before the time of the Exodus, and formed the basis of
their calculations. From the time of the institution of the
Mosaic law the month among the Jews was lunar. The cycle of
religious feasts depended on the moon. The commencement of a
month was determined by the observation of the new moon. The
number of months in the year was usually twelve (1 Kings 4:7; 1
Chr. 27:1-15); but every third year an additional month
(ve-Adar) was inserted, so as to make the months coincide with
the seasons.

  "The Hebrews and Phoenicians had no word for month save
'moon,' and only saved their calendar from becoming vague like
that of the Moslems by the interpolation of an additional month.
There is no evidence at all that they ever used a true solar
year such as the Egyptians possessed. The latter had twelve
months of thirty days and five epagomenac or odd days.",
Palestine Quarterly, January 1889.
    

MONTH. A space of time variously computed, as it is applied to astronomical, 
civil or solar, or lunar months. 
     2. The astronomical month contains one-twelfth part of the time 
employed by the sun in going through the zodiac. In law, when a month simply 
is mentioned, it is never understood to mean an astronomical month. 
     3. The civil or solar month is that which agrees with the Gregorian 
calendar, and these months are known by the names of January, February, 
March, &c. They are composed of unequal portions of time. There are seven of 
thirty-one days each, four of thirty, and one which is sometimes composed of 
twenty-eight days, and in leap years, of twenty-nine. 
     4. The lunar mouth is composed of twenty-eight days only. When a law is 
passed or contract made, and the month is expressly stated to be solar or 
civil, which is expressed by the term calendar month, or when it is 
expressed to be a lunar month, no difficulty can arise; but when time is 
given for the performance of an act, and the word month simply is used, so 
that the intention of the parties cannot be ascertained then the question 
arises, how shall the month be computed? By the law of England a month means 
ordinarily, in common contracts, as, in leases, a lunar month; a contract, 
therefore, made for a lease of land for twelve months, would mean a lease 
for forty-eight weeks only. 2 Bl. Com. 141; 6 Co. R. 62; 6 T. R. 224. A 
distinction has been made between "twelve months," and "a twelve-month;" the 
latter has been held to mean a year. 6 Co. R. 61. 
     5. Among the Greeks and Romans the months were lunar, and probably the 
mode of computation adopted in the English law has been adopted from the 
codes of these countries. Clef des Lois Rom. mot Mois. 
     6. But in mercantile contracts, a month simply signifies a calendar 
month; a promissory note to pay money in twelve months, would therefore mean 
a promise to pay in one year, or twelve calendar months. Chit. on Bills, 
406; 1 John. Cas. 99; 3 B. & B. 187; 1 M. & S. 111; Story on Bills, Sec. 
143; Story, P. N. Sec. 213; Bayl. on Bills, c. 7; 4 Kent, Comm. Sect. 56; 2 
Mass. 170; 4 Mass. 460; 6 Watts. & Serg. 179. 
     7. In general, when a statute Speaks of a month, without adding 
"calendar," or other words showing a clear intention, it shall be intended a 
lunar month. Com. Dig. Ann. B; 4 Wend. 512; 15 John. R. 358. See 2 Cowen, R. 
518; Id. 605. In all legal proceedings, as in commitments, pleadings, &c. a 
month means four weeks. 3 Burr. R. 1455; 1 Bl. Rep. 450; Dougl. R. 446 463. 
     8. In Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and perhaps some other states, 1 
Hill. Ab. 118, n., a month mentioned generally in a statute, has been 
construed to mean a calendar month. 2 Dall. R. 302; 4 Dall. Rep. 143; 4 
Mass. R. 461; 4 Bibb. R. 105. In England, in the ecclesiastical law, months 
are computed by the calendar. 3 Burr. R. 1455; 1 M. & S. 111. 
     9. In New York, it is enacted that whenever the term "month," or 
"months," is or shall be used in any statute, act, deed, verbal or written 
contract, or any public or private instrument whatever, it shall be 
construed to mean a calendar, and not a lunar month; unless otherwise 
expressed. Rev. Stat. part 1, c. 19, tit. 1, Sec. 4. Vide, generally, 2 Sim. 
& Stu. 476; 2 A. K. Marsh. Rep. 245; 3 John. Ch. Rep. 74; 2 Campb. 294; 1 
Esp. R. 146; 6 T. R. 224; 1 M. & S. 111; 3 East, R. 407; 4 Moore, 465; 1 Bl. 
Rep. 150; 1 Bing. 307; S. C. 8 Eng. C. L. R. 328;. 1 M. & S. 111; 1 Str. 
652; 6 M. & S. 227; 3 Brod. & B. 187; S. C. 7 Eng. C. L. R. 404. 
    

44 Moby Thesaurus words for "month":
      abundant year, academic year, annum, bissextile year,
      calendar month, calendar year, century, common year, day, decade,
      decennary, decennium, defective year, fiscal year, fortnight, hour,
      leap year, lunar month, lunar year, lunation, luster, lustrum,
      man-hour, microsecond, millennium, millisecond, minute, moment,
      moon, quarter, quinquennium, regular year, second, semester,
      session, sidereal year, solar year, sun, term, trimester,
      twelvemonth, week, weekday, year