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lustrum

lustrum

9.9
A ceremony held every five years after the census to make the Roman people pure
  • noun
  • /ˈlʌstrəm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lustrum
  • Every lustrum, Roman officials would conduct a purification ceremony after completing the census.

Examples

  • During a lustrum, the population underwent a ceremonial purification.

  • The lustrum involved sacrifices and prayers to cleanse the city's people.

  • Historians study the significance of the lustrum in Roman religious life.

  • The ancient Romans celebrated a lustrum every five years.

  • Every lustrum, Roman officials would conduct a purification ceremony after completing the census.

  • The lustrum involved sacrifices and prayers to cleanse the city's people.

  • During a lustrum, the population underwent a ceremonial purification.

Synonyms

lustration
vslustrum
9.9

A ceremony that purifies people, places, or objects in ancient religions

is a specific Roman five year purification held after the census

Surface Forms

lustrum singular
lustra plural

Etymology

Lustrum was originally the name of a Roman cleansing ceremony. It comes from Latin lustrare meaning 'to purify' or 'make bright' and is related to English luster ('shine'), so lustrum referred to the ritual that 'cleansed' the people.