intercalated
/ɪnˈtɜːrkəleɪtɪd/
adjective
Origin
Latin
intercalare — to proclaim the insertion of an extra day or month
Overview
Meaning Now
- Inserted into a calendar year or other sequence to correct or synchronize it.
- Interposed or placed between other things.
Literal older meaning
proclaimed to be inserted between
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
intercalatus
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The Roman calendar originally relied on a lunar cycle. Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, the pontiffs would 'intercalate' (proclaim the insertion of) an extra month to realign the calendar with the seasons. Julius Caesar eventually reformed this with the Julian calendar, making intercalation predictable rather than arbitrary.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
intercalare
“to insert into the calendar”
Specifically referring to the Roman practice of inserting an extra month (Mercedonius).
- Late Latin
intercalatus
“inserted”
- 16th century English
intercalated
“inserted into a sequence”
Adopted into technical and academic English.
Connections
Word parts
inter-
prefix
between
calare
root
to call or proclaim
-ated
ending
forming a past participle adjective
Related across languages
French
intercaler
to insert
Spanish
intercalar
to insert or intercalate
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Related to intercalated
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.