Forms: α. 3–4 Ieniuer, 3–5 Ieneuer, -e, 4 Ianewer, Genuer, 4–5 Ianyuer, -e, Ianeuer, -e, -ver, Ianiuer, -e, Ianuuer, Ianver, 6 Ianivare, 7 Ianiuere; Sc. 7–8 Janiveer, (9 -vier); β. 5 Ienuare, 5–7 Ianuar(e; Sc. 7–8 Januar, 8 Janwar; γ. 4–7 Ianuarie, -ye, 5 Ianuari, 5–7 -ary, (-arij); 7– January. [In early form a. ONF. Jenever, Genever, = mod.F. Janvier:—L. Jānuārium, nom. Jānuārius (mensis), i.e., the month of JANUS, as presiding over the entrance into the year. Whence also It. Gennajo, Gennaro, Pr. Genovier, Januer, Sp. † Jenero, Enero, Pg. Janeiro. The later forms show gradual conformation to the L.; which was sometimes used unchanged in OE.]
The first month of the year according to the modern reckoning. Abbreviated Jan.
α. [c. 1120. P. de Thaun, Livre des Creatures (Wright), 858. Mais tut tens en Genever femes l’an cumencer.]
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 76/202. In þe Monþe of Ieneuer.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7259. In þe verþe day of Ieniuer [later v.rr. Ianyuere, ianewer, Ieneuere, Ianuuer].
13[?]. K. Alis., 57. Genuer was theo endleft [month].
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 73. Pompilius … putte Ianeuer and Feuerrer to þe bygynnynge of þe ȝere.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 145 b/1. His feste is the xv day of Ianyuer.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 16. The xxiiij. day of Janivare.
1604. Dekker, 1st Pt. Honest Wh., Wks. 1873, II. 69. Hee’s more cold then a Cittizens countrie house in Janiuere.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, Yng. Man to Old Woman, 16. December meeting Janiveer.
Old Rhyme. If the grass grow in Janiveer, It grows the worse for’t all the year.
1834–51. Mary Howitt, Sk. Nat. Hist. (ed. 7), 117. First of the months comes Janivier, The coldest month of all the year.
β. [14[?]. Chaucer’s Merch. T., 561 (Corpus). Þis hastyf Ianuare [so Petw., Lansd.; Ellesm., Hengw., Harl., Cambr. Ianuarie].]
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 73. Pompilius … addede Ianuare and Februare to the begynnenge of the yere.
1570. Ane Tragedie, 1, in Satir. Poems Reform., x. 82. In Januar the thre and twentie day.
1784. Burns, There was a lad, ii. ’Twas then a blast o’ Janwar win’ Blew hansel in on Robin.
γ. [a. 1000. Menologium, 10 (Gr.). Forma monað hyne folc mycel Ianuarius ʓerun heton.]
[c. 1386. Chaucer, Merch. T., 451. This mayden … Mayus highte … Shal wedded be vn-to this Ianuarie.]
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., IX. ix. 354. The fyrste hyghte Ianuari, and hath that name of a god feyned that hyghte Ianus.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Numa. Numa tooke away the moneth of Marche from the first place, and gave it unto Ianuary.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 229. The Commonalty begin the Year the First Day of January, the Lawyers the Five and Twentieth Day of March.
1788. Priestley, Lect. Hist., III. xiv. 110. By act of parliament in one thousand seven hundred and fifty-two, the first day in January was appointed to be the beginning of the year for all purposes.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 Jan., 1/2. Few Januaries have been preceded by such a week as Christmas, 1891.
