Definition of "novem" []

• An old game at dice played by five or six persons, in which the two principal throws were nine and five. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "ALLEN: Because in ancient Rome, when an emperor would die or when a major public figure, a general who had been -- you know, had accomplished -- had won great battles for the people of Rome, there was a customary nine-day period of mourning, the so-called novem dialis."
• "After that, there will be a period of nine days of mourning known as novem dialis."
• "The day after the pope's death marks the start of nine days of mourning, known as novem dialis."