"Graham P Davis" schreef in bericht
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Yannis wrote:

"Paul Hyett" wrote in message
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Over here, November lasts 30 days, not 10 years.

Well, that's news!
Last third of November, then :-) I swear I've seen it written on usw,
though; that is, the word "decade" refering to a third of a month.

"Decade" and "decad" are interchangeable, meaning "a group or series of
ten
things" and derive from the Greek /dekad/, though I guess you knew
that. ;-)

"Decade" is usually assumed to refer to years whilst, in meteorological
circles, "decad" tends to be reserved for a ten-day period.

Thank you for explaining, Graham. In Dutch the word "decade" (however
pronounced in the French way) - is also used for a 10-day period. As Yannis
dwells on Dutch soil currently -- its confusing .
I'm not an historian - and complete off topic now -- but was it during the
French revolution the months were split up in 3 decades - as they wanted to
get rid of the weeks? (seven days were too Christian?). At least a legacy
for meteorologists?

Wijke
Centre of the Netherlands -- Tc 12.4c - cirrus - S 3 -- very springlike