calends

American  

[kal-uhndz] / ˈkæl əndz /

Or kalends

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.

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calends British  

/ ˈkælɪndz /

plural noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of calends

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

Example Sentences

Saturnalia, and several other festivals, were celebrated on the calends of January; Christmas was fixed at the same epoch.

From A Treatise on Relics by Calvin, John

That was the 13th day before the calends of April.

From Astronomy of To-day A Popular Introduction in Non-Technical Language by Dolmage, Cecil Goodrich Julius

"Perhaps it was in the Greek calends," said Edric.

From Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune by Crake, A. D. (Augustine David)

Between Easter and the calends of October let them apply themselves to reading from the fourth hour until the sixth hour....

From Education in England in the Middle Ages Thesis Approved for the Degree of Doctor of Science in the University of London by Parry, Albert William

They announce that a duumvir or aedile or flamen will exhibit twenty or thirty pairs of combatants on the calends of May or the ides of April.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel