ides?

[missmooncat]

What does Ides mean?As in the Ides of March

[bernardo]

It just means the 15th day of March (or May, July or October), or the 13th of any other month.  The Romans didn't just count the days in each month with numbers like we do; they gave them names as well.  e.g.:

March
1 = Kalendis Martias = the Kalends of March
2 = ante diem sextum Nonarum Martias = a.d.VI.Non.Mar = 6th day before Nones of March
3, 4, 5, 6 = a.d.V,IV,III,II.Non.Mar. = 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd day before the Nones of March
7 = Nonae Martias = Non.Mar. = the Nones of March
8 to 14 = a.d.VIII ad II. Id.Mar. = 8th to 2nd day before the Ides of March
15 = Ides of March = Idus Martias
16th March = a.d.XVII.Kal.Iun. = 17th day before the Kalends of April
etc.

April
1 = Kalends of April
5 = Nones of April
13 = Ides of April
etc.