lemures

(lem’i-réz), n. pl. [L.: see Lemur.] 1. Among the ancient Romans, the spirits of the departed considered as evil-disposed speeters or ghosts, who were supposed to do mischief at night to the living, and were exorcised annuall with a ceremonial ritual by the head of eac household, at midnight on May 9th, 11th, and 13th, on which days was celebrated the festival ealled lemuralia or lemuria. There were also games and other public observances of the festival. Also called larve. Compare Lari, 1. The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight plaint. Milton, Nativity, 1. 171. 2. [cap.] In zodl.: (a) Lemurs: equivalent to Lemuroidea. (b) A group of noctuid moths. Hiibner, 1816. Lemuria! (1é-mi’ri-ii), 7. [NL., fem. sing., _ Lemuria; Lemuria? (1é-mi’ri-i), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl.,