I.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,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 107; id. Q. Fr. 2, 1, 1: “dies festus ludorum celeberrimus et sanctissimus,” Cic. 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).