Legal Definitions - nones

The term nones refers to a specific point in time, historically understood in two primary contexts:

• In the Roman Calendar: It designated a particular day of the month.
• In Ecclesiastical Practice and General Usage: It referred to a specific time of day, typically in the afternoon.

In the ancient Roman calendar, the Nones was the ninth day before the Ides. This day varied depending on the month. For March, May, July, and October, the Nones fell on the 7th day of the month. For all other months, it fell on the 5th day. This system was crucial for dating official documents, public announcements, and legal proceedings.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Nones is one of the seven canonical hours, which are fixed times of the day for prayer and devotion. It traditionally occurs around the ninth hour after sunrise, which typically corresponds to 3:00 p.m. This term was also used more generally in historical contexts to refer to this specific afternoon time.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of "nones":

• Example 1 (Roman Calendar): A historian is analyzing an ancient Roman property deed that specifies the transaction occurred on "the Nones of September."

  Explanation: This example illustrates the Roman calendar meaning of "nones." Since September is not one of the months where Nones falls on the 7th, the historian would understand that the legal transfer of property took place on September 5th, providing a precise date for the historical record.

• Example 2 (Ecclesiastical/General Time): A researcher studying medieval court proceedings discovers a witness testimony stating, "The argument began shortly after nones, as the shadows grew long."

  Explanation: Here, "nones" refers to the canonical hour of prayer, traditionally observed around 3:00 p.m., or more generally, the early afternoon. The testimony indicates that the dispute started in the late afternoon, after the customary time for the Nones prayer, helping to establish the timeline of events in the legal context.