What does "nones" mean?
The notional first-quarter day of a Roman month, occurring on the 7th day of the four original 31-day months (March, May, Quintilis or July, and October) and on the 5th day of all other months.
Nones
/nʌnz/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The notional first-quarter day of a Roman month, occurring on the 7th day of the four original 31-day months (March, May, Quintilis or July, and October) and on the 5th day of all other months.
- Grammar: nones is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: midday, church, devotions, duty.
- Usage evidence: The third day before the nones of March is March 5th; the third nones of August is August 3rd; and the third of the nones of November is November 3rd.
How to use "nones"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nones" in a final draft.
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Before you rely on this definition
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 The notional first-quarter day of a Roman month, occurring on the 7th day of the four original 31-day months (March, May, Quintilis or July, and October) and on the 5th day of all other months. capitalized, historical, often
"The third day before the nones of March is March 5th; the third nones of August is August 3rd; and the third of the nones of November is November 3rd."
- 2 Alternative form of Nones: atheists or those without religious affiliation. alt-of, alternative, plural
"Both the religiously dis-identified ("nones") and the religiously committed report mystical experiences."
- 3 Those without any religious affiliation: atheists and others outside any organized religion. plural
"The second is the “Nones” proper, those who in response to the question “What is your religious tradition, if any?” answer “None.” […] Even among the “Nones” only a small minority identify as atheist or agnostic. In fact, the vast majority of “Nones” claim beliefs and attitudes more like than unlike those of persons inside churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques."
- 4 A dialect of Italian spoken in parts of Trentino around the Non Valley.
- 5 the fifth of the seven canonical hours; about 3 p.m. wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 The ninth hour after dawn (about 3 pm). capitalized, historical, sometimes
"...the same Liturgy of prayers be used both at Nones and Vespers. [With the note:] Nones was what we call three o'clock in the afternoon."
- 7 The divine office appointed to the hour.
"The Greek monks always listen to their reader recite Psalms 83, 84, and 85 from the Septuagint at nones."
- 8 Alternative form of noon: the sixth hour after dawn; midday (12 pm). alt-of, alternative, obsolete
- 9 Synonym of lunch: a meal eaten around noon. obsolete
"I... ouer-seye me at my sopere and some tyme at nones."
Example
"The third day before the nones of March is March 5th; the third nones of August is August 3rd; and the third of the nones of November is November 3rd."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nones"?
Common synonyms include: midday, church, devotions, duty, evensong, liturgy.
How do you use "nones" in a sentence?
The third day before the nones of March is March 5th; the third nones of August is August 3rd; and the third of the nones of November is November 3rd.
How do you pronounce "nones"?
Pronounced /nʌnz/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin nōnus (“ninth”). As a day of the Roman calendar, via nōnae (“ninth days”) from the original Roman practice of counting forward to the next full or new crescent moon, the nones' occurrence 8 days before the ides of every month (9 counting inclusively) following the establishment of a fixed calendar, and from the Latin practice of treating most recurring calendrical days as plurals. Some scholars believe the name is a variant of the nundines (nūndinae fēriae (“ninth-day festival”)), the Roman market days held every eight days (9 counting inclusively), which were likely announced for each coming month by the Roman kings on the first-quarter days. As a time of day, via the plural form of Middle English, Anglo-Norman, & French none and Latin nōna (“ninth hour”) after the manner of earlier matins, vespers, etc. As a meal, from the time of day, whether from its plural, genitive, or the occasional adverbial sense of -s.
Etymology 2
See Nones.
Etymology 3
From their selection of the option None or None of the above on census returns or other surveys of religious affiliation.
Etymology 4
From its center in the Non Valley.