calends

or kal·ends

[ kal-uhndz ]

noun

, (usually used with a plural verb)

1. the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar, from which the days of the preceding month were counted backward to the ides.

calends

/ ˈkælɪndz /

plural noun

1. the first day of each month in the ancient Roman calendar

Word History and Origins

Origin of calends¹

1325–75; Middle English kalendes, alteration (with native plural suffix) of Latin kalendae, perhaps equivalent to cal- (base of calāre to proclaim) + -end- formative suffix (perhaps for *-and- ) + -ae plural ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of calends¹

C14: from Latin kalendae; related to Latin calāre to proclaim

Example Sentences

The first day of each month was invariably called the Calends.

From Project Gutenberg

The phrase used here, “the sixth day after the calends, corresponds identically to no Latin form of speech.”

From Project Gutenberg

He remarks of “the marigolde” that it is called Calendula “as it is to be seene to flower in the calends of almost euerie moneth.”

From Project Gutenberg

Pliny tells us that it was called bruma; and, like Servius, places it on the 8th of the calends of January.

From Project Gutenberg

Their regular meetings were held on three stated days in every month, the Calends, the Nones, and the Ides.

From Project Gutenberg