Beware The Ides of March

A day of mishap, mischance, and misfortune

Saturdays are perfect days for historical surprises. Surprise—we’re talking about the Ides of March today!

No March 15 would be complete without someone delivering the ominous warning, “Beware the Ides of March.” We all know what March is, but how many of us know what Ides are?

The meaning of Ides dates back to the days when the Roman calendar followed a lunar cycle. The Ides marked the middle of a month, around the time when the full moon rose. The word Ides comes from the Latin iduare meaning to divide.

Historically, the Ides of March have been associated with misfortune and doom. Julius Caesar was famously assassinated on the Ides of March in 44 BC; the event, date, and foreboding phrase were immortalized by William Shakespeare in 1599 AD.

As far as I can tell, no other active words derive from iduare. Instead, this day of doom is as good a time as any to explore four related terms for ill luck:

misadventure (noun) - an accidental mishap or misfortune
BREAKDOWN: MIS- (wrong, bad) + AD- (to) + VEN- (to come) + -URE (act or state)

mischance (noun) - an unlucky event, often resulting in annoyance, adversity, or loss
BREAKDOWN: MIS- (wrong, bad) + CHANCE- (luck)

misfortune (noun) - ill luck, calamity, or disaster
BREAKDOWN: MIS- (wrong, bad) + FORTUN- (luck)

mishap (noun) - an unfortunate accident or event
BREAKDOWN: MIS- (wrong, bad) + HAP- (luck)

“Caesar: The Ides of March are come.
Soothsayer: Ay, Caesar, but not gone.” –William Shakespeare