ides

¹

[ ahydz ]

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.

-ides

²

1. a Greek plural suffix appearing in scientific names:

   cantharides.

ides

/ 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

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ides¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin īdūs (plural), of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

It’s 44 BC, a bit before the ides of March, and Roman citizens are in the streets singing a cheeky ode to life in the Seven Hills — to the tune of Weezer’s “Beverly Hills.”

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

You still have plenty of time before the ides of April arrives.

From Fox News

As each day passed and the ides of July neared, Aurelia became more and more desperate.

From Literature

“You know what happened to Julius Caesar on the ides of March?”

From Literature