fērĭae, ārum (in the sing.: FERIA a feriendis victimis vocata, Paul. ex Fest. p. 85, 12 Müll.), f. [for fes-iae, same root with festus],
I days of rest , holidays , festivals (syn. justitium), a great number of which, both private and public, were kept by the Romans; the latter being either stativae, fixed , regularly recurring on certain days; or conceptivae, movable , settled every year anew; or imperativae, temporary , ordained by the consuls on account of some particular occurrence; or, lastly, the Nundinae, Macr. S. 1, 16; Varr. L. L. 6, § 13 Müll.; Cic. Leg. 2, 12, 29; 2, 22, 57; Plaut. Capt. 4, 1, 3 et saep.: feriae Domini, Vulg. Levit. 23, 2: feriae denicales, Latinae, novendiales, privatae, etc., v. sub h. vv.—
II Transf., rest , peace , leisure : indutiae sunt belli feriae, Varr. ap. Gell. 1, 25, 2: praestare Hesperiae longas ferias, i. e. peace , Hor. C. 4, 5, 37.—Comically: venter gutturque resident esuriales ferias, keep hunger-holidays , i. e. fast , Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 8: tuas possidebit mulier faxo ferias, shall fill , amuse your leisure , id. Ep. 3, 4, 37.—Prov.: sine ullis feriis, i. e. without rest , incessantly , Arn. 1, 9; cf.: feriis caret necessitas, necessity has no law , Pall. 1, 6, 7.— Sing. (eccl. Lat.): feria, a week-day , Tert. Jejun. 2.