ides

¹ American  

[ahydz] / aɪdz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. (in the ancient Roman calendar) the fifteenth day of March, May, July, or October, and the thirteenth day of the other months.

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-ides ² American  

1. a Greek plural suffix appearing in scientific names.

   cantharides.

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ides British  

/ aɪdz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) (in the Roman calendar) the 15th day in March, May, July, and October and the 13th day of each other month See also calends nones

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Etymology

Origin of ides¹

1300–50; Middle English < Old French < Latin īdūs (feminine plural); replacing Middle English idus < Latin

Origin of -ides²

< Greek, plural of -is, suffix of source or origin. See -id ¹

Explanation

The word ides refers to the middle of certain Roman months, particularly March, May, July, and October. March 15th is the ides of March. The term ides stems from the ancient Roman calendar, marking the midpoint of months. Today, most people know the word from the phrase "Beware the ides of March," which comes from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In the play, a fortune-teller issues this warning to Caesar during events that lead up to his assassination in the Senate.

Example Sentences

On Monday, a French court rendered a judgment perhaps more appropriate for the ides of March rather than the first of March.

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2021

And any silly ides of emancipation flew out of the window.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2019

They called a meeting on the ides of March 1783 to discuss taking the army to Philadelphia and demanding Congress provide pay and supplies.

From The Guardian • Aug. 21, 2017

THE ides of March—the 15th of the month, on which five big states voted at around the midpoint of the primary calendar —was bound to be a day of reckoning.

From Economist • Mar. 17, 2016

Into my head jumped this sentence: Tryouts will be in a week, on the ides of March.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt