Every November, it’s time to begin preparation for the winter months, whether that means pulling out your winter coat, adding another blanket to your bed, or searching for the perfect pumpkin pie recipe.

　　每年11月，不管是拿出你的冬衣，床上再添一条毯子，还是寻找完美的南瓜派食谱，都是时候开始为冬天做准备啦。

　　The etymology of our 11th month, however, speaks little to its role in the course of the year. November follows the same pattern as the months before it, September and October, which take their names from their original numericalposition in the calendar year.

　　然而，我们第11个月的词源并不能说明它在这一年中的作用。11月和之前的9月、10月是一样的，它们的名字来源于它们在日历年中的最初位置。

　　November derives from the Latin root novem- meaning “nine,” because in the Roman calendar there were only ten months in the year, and November was indeed the ninth month.

　　11月源于拉丁语的词根novem，意思是“9”，因为在罗马日历中，一年只有10个月，而11月实际上是第九个月。

　　For many English speakers, November marks the point in the year when the cold begins to set in. This association is no doubt why November’s adjectival form, Novemberish, means “dreary,” and why the month’s original name in Old English was Blōtmōnað, literally “blood-month.”

　　对许多说英语的国家的人来说，十一月是一年中开始变寒冷的时候。这种联系无疑是源于十一月的形容词形式，Novemberish意味着“沉闷”，为什么这个月的原始名称在古英语中是Blōtmōnað，字面意思是“血月”。

　　November was the month of heavy animal sacrifice, when the early Saxons would stock up on food for the winter. Here in America, Blōtmōnað maintains a bit of currency, particularly during the weeks leading up to turkey-filled Thanksgiving dinner.

　　11月是动物大祭的月份，早期撒克逊人会在这个月囤积食物过冬。在美国，Blōtmōnað存好一定的货币，特别是在被火鸡填满的感恩节晚餐前的几个星期。

　　But, November need not be Novemberish! We have Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and federal elections to look forward to. And as if that weren’t enough, November is apparently Sweet Potato Awareness Month. The fast-approaching winter does not have to be such a daunting season, particularly considering the holidays ahead in December.

　　但是，十一月并不一定是沉闷的!我们可以期待感恩节、黑色星期五和联邦选举。似乎这还不够，11月显然还是红薯宣传月。即将到来的冬季并不一定是一个令人畏惧的季节，尤其是考虑到12月即将到来的假期。