English

Noun

equinoctes

1. (rare) plural of equinox
   • 1824: John Jones, The history of Wales, page 216

     The four grand and solemn Bardic days are of ancient usage, the two equinoctes, and the two solstices; the new and full moons are also subordinately solemn Bardic days.

   • 1848: Charles Richard Weld, A History of the Royal Society, with Memoirs of the Presidents, page 100 ^DUP

     “ 21. Report the experiments, if conveniently they may, at both the solstices and equinoctes.
     

     “ 22. Observe accurately the time of the sun’s rising on the top of the hill and below, and note the difference⁴.”

   • 2006: John T. Koch, Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, “calendar, Celtic”, §4: The Seasons, page 332 (ABC-CLIO; ISBN 1851094407, 978-1851094400)

     Though Midsummer’s Day celebrations are common in the modern Celtic countries, there is no evidence that the ancient Celts celebrated either the solstices or the equinoctes.