lustrum

English

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Etymology

From Latin lustrum (“period of five years”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlʌstɹəm/

Noun

lustrum (plural lustra)

1. (Roman religion) A lustration or ceremonial purification of all the ancient Roman people, performed every five years, after the taking of the census.
2. A period of five years.
   • 1835, Edgar Allen Poe, ‘Morella’, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Folio Society 2007, p. 31:

     Thus passed away two lustra of her life, and, as yet, my daughter remained nameless upon the earth.

   • 1985, John Fowles, A Maggot:

     Q. Now, sir, if you would be so kind as to guess upon his age. A. Forty five years are certain. I would guess a lustrum more.

Synonyms

• quinquennium

Translations

period of five years

• German: Lustrum (de) n, Jahrfünft (de) n, Fünfjahresperiode (de) f, Fünfjahreszeitraum (de) m, Quinquennium (de) n

• Italian: quinquennio (it) m
• Volapük: lulyel (vo), lulyelayubid (vo)

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Latin

Etymology 1

Noun

lustrum (genitive lustrī); n, second declension

1. bog, morass
2. (usually plural) den of wild beasts; wood, forest
3. (usually plural) (a place of) debauchery

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	lustrum	lustra
genitive	lustrī	lustrōrum
dative	lustrō	lustrīs
accusative	lustrum	lustra
ablative	lustrō	lustrīs
vocative	lustrum	lustra

Etymology 2

Probably from Old Latin *loustrom, cognate to Latin luō (“I wash”).

Noun

lustrum (genitive lustrī); n, second declension

1. a purificatory sacrifice or lustration performed every five years by the censor
2. a period of five years

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	lustrum	lustra
genitive	lustrī	lustrōrum
dative	lustrō	lustrīs
accusative	lustrum	lustra
ablative	lustrō	lustrīs
vocative	lustrum	lustra

References

• lustrum in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879