fasti

The historian consulted the fasti to confirm the date of the ancient festival.

Definition

1. Noun (plural only):
   • A calendar or register of events: In ancient Rome, "fasti" referred to a chronological list or calendar that marked days for legal and public business, as well as important historical events, religious festivals, and official records.
   • A chronological record or annals: By extension, "fasti" can mean any systematic record of events in order of time, such as a yearbook or almanac.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Roman fasti listed all the consuls and major public ceremonies for each year. (A calendar of official events and officeholders.)
  • Historians consult the fasti to understand the sequence of political appointments in ancient Rome. (A chronological register used for scholarly research.)

Advanced Usage

• "the Roman fasti": Specifically refers to the official calendar of the Roman Republic and Empire, which included dies fasti (days when legal proceedings were permitted) and dies nefasti (days when they were forbidden).

  • The fasti were inscribed on stone tablets and displayed in public forums. (These calendars were publicly accessible records.)

• "fasti consulares": A specific type of fasti that listed the names of consuls and other magistrates year by year.

  • The fasti consulares provide a reliable timeline of Roman political leadership. (A specialized chronological list of officeholders.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fastus (noun, singular): In Roman religion, a day on which legal business was allowed (opposite of nefastus).

  • A fastus day was marked in the calendar for court proceedings. (A permitted day for legal activity.)

• Nefastus (adj): Describing a day on which legal business was forbidden in ancient Rome.

  • The nefastus days were reserved for religious observances. (Days when public business could not be conducted.)

Synonyms

• Calendar: A system for organizing days and events.
• Annals: A record of events year by year.
• Register: An official list or record of items.
• Almanac: A yearly calendar with astronomical and seasonal data.

Related Idioms

• "to be in the fasti": To be recorded officially or historically.

  • His name is in the fasti of the university as a founding benefactor. (He is officially remembered in the institution's records.)

• "the fasti of fame": A poetic expression meaning the records of notable achievements.

  • The poet's works are inscribed in the fasti of English literature. (His works are permanently recorded in literary history.)