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year

1. The time of the apparent revolution of the sun trough the ecliptic; the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution around the sun, called the astronomical year; also, a period more or less nearly agreeing with this, adopted by various nations as a measure of time, and called the civil year; as, the common lunar year of 354 days, still in use among the Mohammedans; the year of 360 days, etc. In common usage, the year consists of 365 days, and every fourth year (called bissextile, or leap year) of 366 days, a day being added to february on that year, on account of the excess above 365 days (see Bissextile). Of twenty year of age he was, I guess. (Chaucer)

The civil, or legal, year, in England, formerly commenced on the 25th of march. This practice continued throughout the British dominions till the year 1752.

2. The time in which any planet completes a revolution about the sun; as, the year of jupiter or of saturn.

3. Age, or old age; as, a man in years. Anomalistic year, the time of the earth's revolution from perihelion to perihelion again, which is 365 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 48 seconds. A year's mind, a time to be allowed for an act or an event, in order that an entire year might be secured beyond all question. Year of grace, any year of the Christian era; Anno Domini; A. D. Or a. D.

Origin: OE. Yer, yeer, yer, AS. Gear; akin to OFries. Ir, gr, D. Jaar, OHG. Jar, G. Jahr, Icel. Ar, Dan. Aar, Sw. Ar, Goth. Jr, Gr. A season of the year, springtime, a part of the day, an hour, a year, Zend yare year. Cf. Hour, Yore. A body of students who graduate together; the class of '97; she was in my year at Hoehandle High.