Cerveth

The seventh month in the calendars of Middle-earth, which corresponded most closely to modern July. It ran, in fact, from late June to late July on a modern calendar, though the precisely equivalent modern dates depend on the original calendar in use. Cerveth first appeared as part of the King's Reckoning of Númenor, according to which it ran for thirty-one days immediately following Midsummer. In the revised Stewards' Reckoning of Gondor, the month sill followed Midsummer, but was reduced to a length of thirty days. On both systems, Cerveth was followed by the month of Úrui (which equates approximately to modern August).

Cerveth was the Sindarin form of the name of this month, and the one generally used in Middle-earth, except among the Dúnedain. The people of Gondor preferred to use the Quenya form Cermië (a name directly equivalent to Cerveth).

This month is notable as being one of the few given directly in annals (which typically tend not to provide specific dates for events). The dating in question relates to the end of the reign of King Ondoher of Gondor in the year III 1944, when a coordinated attack by the Wainriders and Haradrim threatened Gondor. The enemy were first sighted on the ninth day of Cerveth,² and the Northern Army of the Dúnedain was defeated four days later. The dated account ceases at this point, but we know from other sources that Ondoher's southern captain Eärnil was able to defeat the invaders shortly afterward at the Battle of the Camp.