dog days
/ˈdɔɡ deɪz/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.98 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The days following the heliacal rising of Sirius, now in early August (Gregorian) at dates varying by latitude.
Archaic
noun
The unpleasantly hot days of late summer.
noun
Any similar period of inactivity, laziness, or stagnation.
Example Sentences
- "... a sterre, wherof canicular or dogge days be named Dies caniculares."
- "Dog days bright and clear Indicate a good year; But when accompanied by rain, We hope for better times in vain."
- "Why ſhould thoſe Eteſian and Eaſterne winds blow cōtinually in ſome places, at ſet times, one way ſtill, in the dog dayes only: heere perpetuall drought, there dropping ſhowres; [...]"
- "The dog days of August have often spelled trouble for the world economy."
- "The two-cassette miniseries, produced by Oliver Stone, arrives in early August, in time to stir the dog days of summer rentals."
Etymology
Calque of Latin diēs caniculārēs (“puppy days”), a calque of Ancient Greek κυνάδες ἡμέραι (kunádes hēmérai, “dog days”), from κυνάς (kunás, “of or related to dogs”), from Κῠ́ων (Kŭ́ōn, “the Dog”) in reference to the star Sirius, which appears in Homeric Greek as "Orion's dog". The return of Sirius to the night sky (its heliacal rising), occurring in antiquity around July 25 (Athens) or 29 (Rome), was considered by the Greeks and Romans to herald what were considered the hottest, least healthy, and least lucky days of summer.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: κυνάδες ἡμέραι
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈdɔɡ deɪz/
- British English: /ˈdɒɡ deɪz/