Lustra
/ˈlʌstrə/noun
The plural of lustrum, meaning five-year periods or purification ceremonies in ancient Rome.
Did you know?A Roman lustrum was traditionally held every five years by the censor, who purified the citizen body in a ceremony called the lustratio.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leu-
“To loosen, separate, or release; a proposed deep root associated with Latin luere, “to release” or “wash away”.”
Archaic Latin
Latin
luere
“To cleanse, wash away, or atone for.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lustrare
“To purify ritually, especially by performing a solemn ceremony around a person, place, or community.”
Classical Latin
Latin
lustrum
“A five-year period, originally marked by the Roman purification sacrifice performed by the censor.”
Late Latin
Latin
lustra
“Plural of lustrum: purification rites or five-year periods.”
Modern English
English
lustra
“The learned English plural of lustrum, used in historical, classical, and scholarly writing.”
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