vague year

noun

: a year of 365 days used by the ancient Egyptians before the Roman conquest

Word History

Etymology

probably so called from the fact that in a cycle of 1507 vague years any date in it passed through all the seasons

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!