August
the name given to the eighth month of our year. It was named B. C. 30, by the Roman Emperor Augustus, after himself, as he regarded it as a fortunate month for him, being that in which he had gained several important victories. Before this time it was called Sextilis, or the sixth month, the year beginning with March. The name of July had, in like manner, been Quintilis, before it was changed by Julius Cæsar; and as it contained 31 days, the Senate, in order that Augustus might not be behind Cæsar, decreed that August also should have 31 days, and that, for this purpose, a day should be taken away from February.