IDES

, in the Roman Calendar, a name given to a <*>eries of 8 days in each month; which, in the full months, March, May, July, and October, commenced on the 15th day; and in the other months, on the 13th day; from thence reckoned backward, so as in those four months to terminate on the 8th day, and in the rest on the 6th. These came between the calends and the nones. And this way of counting is still used in the Roman Chancery, and in the Calendar of the Breviary.

The Ides of May were consecrated to Mercury; the Ides of March were always esteemed unhappy, after the death of Cæsar; the time after the Ides of June was reckoned fortunate for those who entered into matrimony; the Ides of August were consecrated to Diana, and were observed as a feast by the slaves; on the Ides of September, auguries were taken for appointing the magistrates, who formerly entered into their offices on the Ides of May, and afterwards on those of March.