Month

A space of time variously computed, as it is applied to astronomical, civil or solar, or lunar months. The astronomical month contains one-twelfth part of the time employed by the sun in going through the zodiac. In law, when a month simply is mentioned, it is never understood to mean an astronomical month. The civil, solar or calendar month is that which agrees with the Gregorian calendar; and these months are known by the names of January, February, March, etc. They are composed of unequal portions of time. There are seven of thirty-one days each, four of thirty, and one of twenty-eight days. The lunar month consists of twenty-eight days. By the law of England, a month means ordinarily, in common contracts, as in leases, a lunar month. A contract, therefore, made for a lease of land for twelve months would mean a lease for forty-eight weeks only.

2 Bl. Comm. 141; 6 Coke, 62; 6 Term R. 224; 1 Maule & S. 111; 1 Bing. 307.

A distinction has been made between "twelve months" and "a twelve-months." The latter has been held to mean a year.

6 Coke, 61.

But in mercantile contracts in England, and for any purpose in the United States, a month simply signifies a calendar month. Chit. Bills, 406; 3 Brod. & B. 187; 1 Maule & S. 111; Story, Bills, § 143; Story, Partn. § 213; 2 Mass. 170; 4 Mass. 460; 6 Watts & S. (Pa.) 179; 1 Johns. Cas. (N. Y.) 99; 4 Wend. (N. Y.) 512; 15 Johns. (N. Y.) 358; 2 Cow. (N. Y.) 518, 605; 2 Dall. (Pa.) 302; 4 Dall. (Pa.) 143; 4 Mass. 461; 4 Bibb (Ky.) 105; which ends on the corresponding day in the month succeeding its beginning, less one day.

279 Ill. 401.

In England, in the ecclesiastical law, months are computed by the calendar.

3 Burrows, 1455; 1 Maule & S. 111.