intempestum

Latin

Etymology

From intempestus. As a noun, from earlier use of the adjective in reference to intempesta nox (“dismal/unhealthy night”) as both a time of night and goddess.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /in.temˈpes.tum/, [ɪn̪t̪ɛmˈpɛs̠t̪ʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /in.temˈpes.tum/, [in̪t̪emˈpɛst̪um]

Adjective

intempestum

1. inflection of intempestus:
   1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular
   2. accusative masculine singular

Noun

intempestum n (genitive intempestī); second declension

1. (Medieval Latin) midnight; the time around midnight.

Usage notes

In Medieval use (e.g., Bede), sometimes conceived as a particular period of night lasting from conticinium, when most animals became quiet, to gallicinium, when roosters began to crow.

Declension

Second-declension noun (neuter).

	singular	plural
nominative	intempestum	intempesta
genitive	intempestī	intempestōrum
dative	intempestō	intempestīs
accusative	intempestum	intempesta
ablative	intempestō	intempestīs
vocative	intempestum	intempesta

References

• "Anglo-Saxon Manual of Astronomy", p. 6, in Popular Treatises on Science Written during the Middle Ages (1841), London: Historical Society of Science.