February 2009

In Case You Were Wondering

Every year has at least one Friday the 13th, and 2009 has three — one in February, March, and November. Fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia. Phobia derives from New Latin (ultimately from Greek phebesthai, "to flee"), while treis kai deka translates from Greek as "three and ten." The Unabridged counts only ten terms with thirteen in their definition: one refers to a member of a baker's dozen of sainted healers; four name animals or insects; still another names a coin or a card; and the remaining terms denote a certain count. See them all, if you dare.