Etymology of bissextile
Pierre Abbat
phma at webjockey.net
Wed Mar 3 22:51:47 EST 2004
The word "bissextile" literally means "with a doubled sixth". The Romans,
whose leader Julius Caesar invented the leap day every four years, counted
days backward from the nones, ides, and calends. The day inserted into
February is the sixth day before the calends of March, which is February 24.
As to why he doubled the sixth day, see
http://www.tondering.dk/claus/cal/node3.html for more details.
phma
--
.i toljundi do .ibabo mi'afra tu'a do
.ibabo damba do .ibabo do jinga
.icu'u la ma'atman.
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