august

[ aw-guhst ]
See synonyms for august on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: an august performance of a religious drama.

  2. venerable; eminent: an august personage.

Origin of august

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, Middle French auguste, from Latin augustus “sacred, grand,” akin to augēre “to increase” and augur1; see also eke1

Other words from august

  • au·gust·ly, adverb
  • au·gust·ness, noun

Words Nearby august

Other definitions for August (2 of 2)

August
[ aw-guhst ]

noun
  1. the eighth month of the year, containing 31 days. Abbreviation: Aug.

  2. a male given name, form of Augustus.

Origin of August

2
before 1100; Middle English <Latin Augustus (named after Augustus.); replacing Old English Agustus<Latin, as above

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use august in a sentence

  • But in august, 1805, the approaching war with Austria caused the Emperor to summon his most brilliant cavalry leader to his side.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
  • Her Majesty passed through the town on the 30th of august, 1852, when an address was presented to her.

    Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
  • The operations under the scheme began in august, 1878, when the houses in New Street were pulled down.

    Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
  • On the 6th of august we beheld, for the first time, flying fish, but at such a distance that we could scarcely distinguish them.

  • On the 7th of august we neared the Canary Isles, but unfortunately, on account of the thick fog, we could not see them.

British Dictionary definitions for august (1 of 2)

august

/ (ɔːˈɡʌst) /


adjective
  1. dignified or imposing: an august presence

  2. of noble birth or high rank: an august lineage

Origin of august

1
C17: from Latin augustus; related to augēre to increase

Derived forms of august

  • augustly, adverb
  • augustness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for August (2 of 2)

August

/ (ˈɔːɡəst) /


noun
  1. the eighth month of the year, consisting of 31 days

Origin of August

2
Old English, from Latin, named after the emperor Augustus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012