K K, k, was used in the oldest period of the language as a separate character for the sound k, while C was used for the sound g. In course of time the character C came to be used also for the k sound, and, after the introduction of the character G, for that alone, and K disappeared almost entirely from the Latin orthography, except at the beginning of a few words, for each of which, also, the letter K itself was in common use as an abbreviation; thus, Kæso (or Cæso), Kalendæ (less correctly Calendæ), sometimes Karthago (or Kar.; v. Carthago); and in special connections, Kalumnia, Kaput (for Calumnia and Caput, e. g. k. k. = calumniae causā in jurid. lang.): nam k quidem in nullis verbis utendum puto, nisi quae significat, etiam ut sola ponatur,Quint. 1, 7, 10; cf. id. 1, 4, 9. Some grammarians, indeed, as early as Quintilian's time, thought it proper always to write K for initial C before a, Quint. 1, 7, 10. Besides the above-mentioned abbreviations, the K is also found in KA. for capitalis, KK. for castrorum, K. S. for carus suis.
Kalendae Kălendae (Cal-; v. the letter K), ārum, f.root kal-, cal-; Gr. καλέω; Lat. calāre, clamo; cf. Varr. L. L. 6, § 27 Müll.; prop., the day when the order of days was proclaimed; hence, the Calends, the first day of the month: primi dies nominati Kalendae, ab eo quod his diebus calantur ejus mensis nonae a pontificibus, quintanae an septimanae sint futurae, Varr. L. L. l. l.; Macr. S. 1, 15: sed heus tu, ecquid vides Kalendas venire, Antonium non venire?Cic. Att. 2, 2, 3: litteras accepi datas pridie Kalendas Maias,
on the last day of April
,id. ib. 13, 20, 1. Interest was due on the first day of each month; hence: tristes Kalendae,Hor. S. 1, 3, 87: celeres,Ov. R. Am. 561. This reckoning of time was Roman only; hence: Kalendae Ausoniae,Ov. F. 1, 55. Prov.: ad Kalendas Graecas solvere, i. e. never, August. ap. Suet. Aug. 87. The Kalends were sacred to Juno,Ov. F. 1, 55; Macr. S. 1, 15; hence the first day of the year, Kalendae Martiae, was celebrated as a festival of married women, the Matronalia: dabat, sicut Saturnalibus viris apophoreta, ita per Kalendas Martias feminis,Suet. Vesp. 19: Martiis caelebs quid agam Kalendis,Hor. C. 3, 8, 1: scis certe, puto, vestra jam venire Saturnalia, Martias Kalendas,Mart. 5, 84, 10; Dig. 24, 1, 31, § 8; hence: femineae Kalendae = Kal. Mart.,Juv. 9, 53: Kalendae Sextae,
Kalendalis Kălendālis or Kălendāris, e, adj.Kalendae, of or belonging to the Kalends; of or belonging to the first day of the month: tributa Kalendalia,
Kalendarium Kălendārĭum (Cal-), ii, n.id., a debt-book, account-book, the interest-book of a money-lender, because monthly interest was reckoned to the Kalends: nemo beneficia in Kalendario scribit,Sen. Ben. 1, 2, 3: versare,id. Ep. 14, 18: quid fenus et Kalendarium et usura, nisi humanae cupiditatis extra naturam quaesita nomina,id. Ben. 7, 10, 3; Orig. 12, 1, 41; 15, 1, 58 al.; also called Kalendarii liber,Sen. Ep. 87, 7. Trop.: graciles aurium cutes Kalendarium expendunt,i. e.
a fortune, a whole estate
,Tert. Hab. Mul. 1, 9 fin.
Kalendarius Kălendārĭus, a, um, adj.id., of or belonging to the Kalends: strena,Hier. in Ephes. 3, 6, 4.