festus, a, um, adj. [Sanscr. bhas, shine; lengthened from bha-; Gr. φα-, φαίνω, v. for; cf. feriae (fes-iae)], orig., of or belonging to the holidays (in opp. to the working-days), solemn, festive, festal, joyful, merry.
I Lit.
A Adj. (syn.: sollennis, fastus).
1 With expressions of time: festo die si quid prodegeris, profesto egere liceat, Plaut. Aul. 2, 8, 10: die festo celebri nobilique, id. Poen. 3, 5, 13: qui (dies) quasi deorum immortalium festi atque sollennes, apud omnes sunt celebrati, Cic. Pis. 22, 51: Syracusani festos dies anniversarios agunt, id. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 107; id. Q. Fr. 2, 1, 1: dies festus ludorum celeberrimus et sanctissimus, id. Verr. 2, 4, 67, § 151; id. Fin. 5, 24, 70: lux, Ov. Tr. 5, 5, 42; Hor. C. 4, 6, 42: tempus, id. Ep. 2, 1, 140; Juv. 15, 38: observare festa sabbata, id. 6, 159.—Hence,
2 Transf., of everything relating to holidays: chori, Ov. Tr. 5, 12, 8: clamores, Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 24: corona, Ov. M. 10, 598; cf. fronde, Verg. A. 4, 459: dapes, Hor. Epod. 9, 1: mensae, Sil. 7, 198; Val. Fl. 3, 159: lusus, Mart. 1, 1: pagus, Hor. C. 3, 18, 11: urbs, gay , merry , Sil. 11, 272; 12, 752: theatra, Ov. M. 3, 111: Lares, Mart. 3, 58, 23: licentiae, of the holidays , Quint. 6, 3, 17: pax, Ov. M. 2, 795; Plin. 14, 1, 1, § 23: plebs, Tac. A. 2, 69: domus ornatu, id. ib. 3, 9: ritus, id. H. 5, 5: omina, id. A. 5, 4: cespes, Juv. 12, 2: janua, id. 12, 91.—As a term of endearment: mi animule, mea vita, mea festivitas, meus dies festus, etc., my holiday , Plaut. Cas. 1, 49.—
B Subst.: festum , i, n., a holiday , festival; a festal banquet , feast (poet. and late Lat. for dies festus): cur igitur Veneris festum Vinalia dicant, Quaeritis? Ov. F. 4, 877; 1, 190; id. M. 4, 390: forte Jovi festum Phoebus sollenne parabat, feast , id. F. 2, 247: cum dii omnes ad festum magnae matris convenissent, Lact. 1, 21, 25.—In plur.: Idaeae festa parentis erunt, Ov. F. 4, 182: festa venatione absumi, Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 91; Ov. M. 4, 33; 10, 431; Hor. Epod. 2, 59; id. Ep. 2, 2, 197; Vulg. Exod. 23, 14 al.; Greg. Mag. Homil. in Evang. 2, 26, 10; Lact. 1, 22, 24.—
II Meton., public , solemn , festal , festive , joyous (post-Aug. and rare): dolor, Stat. S. 2, 7, 134: festior annus, Claud. III. Cons. Hon. 3: festissimi dies, Vop. Tac. 11: aures, i. e. gladdened , Claud. B. G. 206 (but in Stat. S. 2, 7, 90 the right read. is fata).