august

comparative auguster · comparative more august · superlative augustest · superlative most august

1. Awe-inspiring, majestic, noble, venerable.

   an august patron of the arts

   5 more examples

   In the book of Pſalms there are many things ſaid of David, which ſeem capable of a much auguſter ſenſe than can be pretended to be anſwered by any thing that befel himſelf.

   1796, Gilbert Bishop of Sarum [i.e., Gilbert Burnet], “Article VII. Of the Old Testament.”, in An Exposition of the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England, Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 123

   [W]e shall not, I think, be able to find language which can convey in few words more fully the idea we should always have impressed on our minds of the august character of our Lord, than the expression, "the word of life."

   1837 August 31, William Sollis, A Sermon, Preached in Holsworthy Church on Thursday, August 31, 1837, at the Anniversaries of the Societies for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. […], Launceston, Cornwall: Penheale-Press, Rev. H. A. Simcoe, →OCLC, page 7

   The commands of the august sovereign are the imperial commands, or the phœnix (the incomparable) mandate.

   1841, E[lijah] C[oleman] Bridgman, “Governmental Affairs”, in A Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton Dialect, Macao: S[amuel] Wells Williams, →OCLC, section second (Imperial Titles), page 558

   —Inconsciously to the augustest end / Thou hast arisen: second not in rank / So much as time, to him who first ordained / That Florence, thou art to destroy, should be— […]

   1846, Robert Browning, “Luria”, in Bells and Pomegranates, volumes VIII (Luria; and A Soul’s Tragedy), London: Edward Moxon, →OCLC; republished in Poems … In Two Volumes, new edition, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], 1849, →OCLC, act IV, page 192

   The foolish dog […] flew at the cat, who in her fright and consternation took refuge behind the screen of the breakfast-room where his Majesty then was. The Mikado was greatly shocked and agitated. He took the cat into his august bosom, and summoning the chamberlain Tadataka, gave orders that Okinamaro should have a good thrashing and be banished to Dog Island at once.

   1899, Sei Shōnagon, “Makura Zōshi [The Attack of the Dog Okinamaro upon the Cat Miyōbu no Otodo]”, in W[illiam] G[eorge] Aston, A History of Japanese Literature, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 111

2. Of noble birth.

   an august lineage

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   A branch of the house of Lorraine, in comparison with which even the royal race of Capet was mean, the Guises traced back their august lineage through a long line of warrior princes to the Imperial figure of Charlemagne.

   1873, Walter Fitz Patrick, chapter I, in The Great Condé and the Period of the Fronde: A Historical Sketch, volume I, London: T[homas] Cautley Newby, publisher, […], →OCLC, page 7

present singular third person augusts · participle present augusting · participle past augusted · past augusted

1. obsoleterareTo make ripe; ripen.
2. obsoleterareTo bring to realization.

   By divine science and cœlestial art / He for the cause of the dear nations toiled, / And augusted man's heavenly hopes that so, / […] / he might, by awful rites / […] / Adhæsion with Divinity achieve.

   1855, Philip James Bailey, The Mystic and Other Poems, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 55

plural augusts

1. alternativeAlternative form of auguste (“kind of clown”).

plural Augusts · alternative abbreviation Aug · alternative abbreviation Aug. · alternative abbreviation AUG · alternative obsolete Aguste · alternative Jamaica Augost

1. The eighth month of the Roman, Julian, and Gregorian calendars, following July and preceding September.

   Holonyms: calendar year; year

   2 more examples

   The day was cool and snappy for August, and the Rise all green with a lavish nature. Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet:[…].

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   Trump’s July 8 announcement of a 50% tariff on copper imports beginning August 1 sent prices surging 13% in one day, up to a record high of $5.69 per pound.

   2025 July 17, John Towfighi, “Copper prices have surged to record highs — and they could jump higher. Here’s why”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 17 Aug 2025

   Synonyms: Eighth Month

2. archaicA female given name from English derived from the month (of birth).

   AUGUST[ 2017]: [Mark] Zuckerberg and [Priscilla] Chan's second daughter, August, is born.

   2018, George Beahm, editor, Mark Zuckerberg: In His Own Words, Agate Publishing, →ISBN

   1 more example

   August, Charis named her, because that's when she was born. Warm breezes, baby powder, languorous heat, the smell of mown hay. Such a soft name. Too soft for her daughter, who has added an a. Augusta, she is now — a very different resonance. Marble statues, Roman noses, tight-lipped commanding mouths.

   1993, Margaret Atwood, Robber Bride, Virago Press, published 2013, →ISBN, page 48

   Synonyms: Sextilis, Sextile

1. A male given name from Latin.

   Thirteen year old August is the eldest; he begins to pull the kite downward. Like his sister and brother, June and July, he has been named after the month in which he was born.

   1974, Witi Ihimaera, Whanau, Heinemann, page 76

2. A surname from Latin.
3. A census-designated place in San Joaquin County, California, United States.