an ancient term among the Latins, used in a general sense to signify a verse; but more particularly to signify a spell, charm, form of expiation, or exorcism, couched in a few words placed in a mystic order, on which its efficacy depended. Pezron derives the word *carmen* from the Celtic *carm*, the shout of joy, or the verses which the ancient bards sung to encourage the soldiers before the combat.—*Carmen* was anciently a denomination given also to precepts, laws, prayers, imprecations, and all solemn formulae couched in a few words placed in a certain order, though written in prose. In which sense it was that the elder Cato wrote a *Carmen de moribus*, which was not in verse but in prose.

CARMENTALIA; a feast among the ancient Romans, celebrated annually upon the 11th of January, in honour of Carmenta, or Carmentis, a prophetess of Arcadia, mother of Evander, with whom she came into Italy 60 years before the Trojan war. The solemnity was also repeated on the 15th of January, which is marked in the old calendar by *Carmentalia relata*. This feast was established on occasion of a great fecundity among the Roman dames, after a general reconciliation with their husbands, with whom they had been at variance, in regard of the use of coaches being prohibited them by an edict of the senate. This feast was celebrated by the women: he who offered the sacrifices was called *faecordos carmentalis*.