Etymology Dictionary

YEAR,  the time of the earth's revolution round the sun.  (E.)   M. E. ȝeer, yeer, ȝer, yer; Chaucer, C. T. 601, where it appears as a plural.   This sb. was formerly unaltered in the plural, like sheep, deer; hence the mod. phrase 'a two-year old colt.'   The pl. year is common in Shak. Temp. i. 2. 53, &c.—A. S. geár, gér, a year; pl. geár; Grein, i. 496. + Du. jaar. + Icel. ár. + Dan. aar, pl. aar. + Swed. år. + G. jahr; O. H. G. jár. + Goth. jer.   β. All from Teut. type YÂRA, a year, Fick, iii. 243.    Further allied to Gk. ὧρος, a season, a year; ὥρα, a season, an hour.—✔YÂ, to go, pass; an extension from ✔I, to go; whence also Skt. yátu, time.   See Hour.   Der. year-ly, adj. and adv.; year-ling, an animal a year old, with double dimin. suffix -l-ing.   Allied to hour.