The spelling of the word "ides" may seem confusing at first, but it can be broken down phonetically as /aɪdz/. The first part, "i" is pronounced as the long vowel sound /aɪ/, followed by the voiced consonant sound /d/ and ending with the plural marker /z/. The word "ides" is commonly known as the middle day of each month in the Roman calendar, but its spelling and pronunciation may cause confusion for those who are not familiar with its origin.
Ides is a noun that refers to a specific day in the ancient Roman calendar. It originally denoted the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months. The term "ides" derives from the Latin word "idus," itself derived from "indo" meaning to divide. The ides was considered a significant reference point in the Roman calendar as it divided each month into two halves, representing a midpoint between the Kalends, which marked the start of the month, and the Nones, which typically fell on the 7th day of March, May, July, and October, and on the 5th of the other months.
The ides held particular importance to the Romans as it was a date used for various religious and administrative purposes. It was often associated with the payment of debts, official appointments, and religious observances. Moreover, the ides of March achieved historical significance due to the assassination of Julius Caesar on that day in 44 BCE, immortalized by William Shakespeare in his play "Julius Caesar."
In contemporary usage, the term "ides" is seldom employed in everyday language, except in historical or literary contexts when referring to the Roman calendar. The word is utilized to describe a specific date that marks a point of significance or transition within a given month, much like the original concept embodied by the ancient Roman ides.
In the anc. Rom. calendar, the 15th day of the months March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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The word "ides" originates from the Latin term "īdūs". In the ancient Roman calendar, the ides was a specific day that fell roughly in the middle of the month. The word "īdūs" itself is believed to have derived from an Etruscan word meaning "to divide" or "to separate". This reflects the ides' function of dividing the month into two equal parts.