December

Dĕcember, bris, m. [decem and -ber, = fer, Sanscr. bhar, to carry, bear: cf. Septem-ber, etc.], the tenth month of the Roman year, reckoned from March, and consequently our twelfth, December (containing, as now, 31 days): "dehinc quintus (mensis) Quintilis et sic deinceps usque ad Decembrem a numero," Varr. L. L. 6, § 34 Müll.; Cic. Leg. 2, 21 fin.:

acceptus Geniis December (on account of the Saturnalia celebrated in this month),

Ov. F. 3, 58; cf. Sen. Ep. 18:

canus,

Mart. 1, 50:

gelidus,

Ov. Tr. 1, 11, 3; cf.:

fumosus,

id. ib. 2, 491.—

b.

Adj.:

ut adesset senatus frequens a. d. VIII. Kalendas Decembres,

Cic. Phil. 3, 8:

Nonae Decembres,

Hor. Od. 3, 18, 10:

Idibus Decembribus,

Liv. 4, 37: libertate Decembri utere (i. e. of the Saturnalia ), Hor. S. 2, 7, 4.—

II.

As closing the year, meton. for the (past) year:

hic tertius December, ex quo, etc.,

Hor. Epod. 11, 5; cf.:

me quater undenos implevisse Decembres,

id. Ep. 1, 20, 27.—

2.

Dĕcember, bris, m., a Roman surname, Inscr. Grut. 241; 676 al.; name of a slave, Dig. 40, 5, 41, § 15.