Definition of NONES

nones

Plural: nones

Noun

  • the fifth of the seven canonical hours; about 3 p.m.
  • a canonical hour that is the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise
  • a service in the Roman Catholic Church formerly read or chanted at 3 PM (the ninth hour counting from sunrise) but now somewhat earlier
  • 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.
  • The ninth hour after dawn (about 3 pm).
  • The divine office appointed to the hour.
  • Alternative form of noon: the sixth hour after dawn; midday (12 pm).
  • Synonym of lunch: a meal eaten around noon.
  • Alternative form of Nones: atheists or those without religious affiliation.

Examples

  • The Greek monks always listen to their reader recite Psalms 83, 84, and 85 from the Septuagint at nones.
  • 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.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Synonyms

none, lunch, midday, noon, noontide

Scrabble Score: 5

nones: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
nones: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
nones: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

nones: valid Words With Friends Word