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a ceremonial purification of the Roman population every five years following the census

A lustration or purification, especially the purification of the whole Roman people, which was made by the censors once in five years. Hence: A period of five years.

A lustration or purification, especially the purification of the whole Roman people, which was made by the censors once in five years. Hence: A period of five years.

A period of five years; originally a sacrificial purification of the Roman people every five years.

In anc. Rome, the space of about five years, or the interval between the lustrations-see lustral.