‖ neomenia
(niːəʊˈmiːnɪə)
[eccl. L. neomēnia, a. Gr. νεοµηνία (Attic νουµηνία), f. νέος new neo- + µήνη moon.]
In Greek and Jewish antiq., the time of the new moon, the beginning of the lunar month; also, the festival held at that time.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ix. xxvii. (Bodl. MS.), Þis feste þat hatte neomenia..was swiþe hiȝe and holy. 1534 More Treat. Passion Wks. 1308/1 Amonge the Jewes Neomenia the fyrste daye of the new mone nexte after the Equynoctiall in vere..is the fyrste daye of the yere. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1701) 75/1 The Neomenia of Hecatombæon did..never precede the Solstice. 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Some say, the Jews reckoned two kinds of Neomenia, or new moons. 1876 Birch Rede Lect. Egypt 26 The battle of Megiddo, fought..in the neomenia of that month. 1888 tr. Renan's Hist. Israel I. 86 It will become the clarion of the neomenia and the trumpet of judgment. |
So † neomeny. Obs. [Cf. F. néoménie.]
| 1382 Wyclif Col. ii. 16 In part of feeste day, or neomenye, or of sabotis. 1388 ― Isa. i. 13 Y schal not suffre neomenye, and sabat and othere feestis. c 1449 Pecock Repr. v. i. 481. 1569 J. Sandford tr. Agrippa's Van. Artes 84 b, Neomenies, (that is, the times of the newe Moone) perpetuall. |