a lustrum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lustrum" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to a period of five years and can be used in contexts discussing time intervals or historical events. Example: "The organization celebrated its fifth anniversary, marking a significant lustrum since its founding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

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Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once a census was complete, a purification ceremony (the lustrum) was performed by a censor, which typically involved prayers for the upcoming five years.

Wikipedia

The word comes from the Latin lustrum, "a purifying sacrifice," which was carried out every five years in imperial Rome.

The New York Times - Magazine

The concept is based on the ancient Roman lustrum rituals, a cleansing or purification of an individual or community through the removal of pollution.

SEP

For all its political insights, though, it is as a pure thriller that Lustrum stands or falls.

The Guardian - Books

On the other hand, between 1985 and 1990, the country raised the tariffs after a decrease in the previous lustrum.

Journal of Economic Structures

But readers expecting Lustrum to unfold as a traditional swords-and-sandals whodunnit will be surprised.

The Guardian - Books

Unlike the previous book, Lustrum (2009), which began with the discovery of a murder, Dictator opens less obviously in the thriller mode, though its pace is no less relentless, as Harris takes us at a clip through the 15 years between Cicero's exile in 58BC, as a result of the Cataline conspiracy detailed in Lustrum, and his eventual death in 43BC.

The Guardian - Books

Third, since annual AOPD fluctuated depending on the year, a comparison of AOPD and yield at the AOPD by lustrum was conducted.

Nature

From the myriad of papers now available in the web, we will only present those that we believe are the most illustrative applications within three lustrum, 2000 to 2015, all set to give a frame that place these optical techniques as mature technologies with an absolute relevance to conduct metrology in many fields.

Optics and Lasers in Engineering

Pompeii was published, to applause from classicists, in 2003 and Harris returned to the Roman era with Imperium (2006), and Lustrum (2009) and is currently in the early stages of a new book that will complete a trilogy.

The Guardian

"Lustrum is a serious piece of storytelling, enormously enjoyable to read, with an insider's political tone which makes the dedication much more than a matter of convention or duty". "Some readers may be tempted to ransack Lustrum for parallels with contemporary British politics," Nick Rennison observed in the Sunday Times.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lustrum" when referring to a five-year period in historical or formal contexts to add a touch of classical elegance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid confusing "lustrum" with words related to "lust" or "luster". "Lustrum" specifically refers to a period of five years, while the other terms relate to desire or brightness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lustrum" functions as a noun phrase, specifically denoting a period of five years. It often appears in contexts related to historical analyses or scientific studies, as suggested by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lustrum" refers to a five-year period, originating from ancient Roman purification ceremonies. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct but used infrequently. It is most commonly found in scientific, historical and formal contexts. While alternatives like "five-year period" or "quinquennium" exist, "a lustrum" adds a touch of classical elegance when appropriate. Be mindful to differentiate it from similarly spelled words.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

five-year period

Replaces the Latin term with a straightforward English description.

period of five years

A more verbose but equally clear alternative.

quinquennium

A more formal, less common synonym.

half-decade

Emphasizes the length as half of a decade.

five years

Simply states the duration without the specific term.

a span of five years

Adds emphasis to the duration.

five-year interval

Highlights the regular occurrence of this period.

pentad

A less common synonym, generally used in specific scientific or historical contexts.

every five years

Focuses on the frequency rather than the duration itself.

a cycle of five years

Implies a recurring pattern over the stated time.

FAQs

How can I use "a lustrum" in a sentence?

You can use "a lustrum" to refer to a period of five years, especially in historical or formal contexts. For example, "The organization celebrated its fifth anniversary, marking a significant lustrum since its founding."

What can I say instead of "a lustrum"?

You can use alternatives like "five-year period", "period of five years", or "quinquennium" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "lustrum" to describe any five-year period?

Yes, "lustrum" refers to any five-year period, though it is most commonly used in historical or formal contexts, particularly when discussing ancient Rome.

What is the origin of the word "lustrum"?

The word "lustrum" comes from ancient Rome, where it originally referred to a purification ceremony performed every five years after the census.