calends

The calends of March was a day for settling debts in ancient Rome.

Definition

1. Noun (plural in form, used with a singular or plural verb):
   • The first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar: "calends" (also spelled "kalends") refers to the first day of each month in the Roman system, which coincided with the new moon. It was a day for settling debts and making official proclamations.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The calends of January marked the beginning of the Roman new year. (The first day of January in the Roman calendar.)
  • Debts were traditionally paid on the calends of each month. (The first day was a deadline for financial obligations.)

Advanced Usage

• "at the Greek calends" (idiomatic): a phrase meaning "never," because the Greek calendar had no calends. It is used to indicate something that will never happen.
  • He promised to repay the loan at the Greek calends. (He will never repay it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kalends (n): an alternative spelling of "calends," used interchangeably.
  • The kalends of March were a time for religious festivals. (The first day of March.)

Synonyms

• First day: the initial day of a month or period.
• New moon: the astronomical event marking the start of a lunar month, which the calends originally represented.

Related Idioms

• On the Greek calends: never (as explained above).
  • The project will be finished on the Greek calends. (It will never be finished.)