The Psalmist wrote, "Vespere et mane et meridie narrabo et annuntiabo, et exaudiet vocem meam" (Ps. 54).

Nam neque arborum comae pro pecorum tuguriis factae meridie per aestatem, optabilem exhibentes umbram oves ita reficiunt, ac scripturarum lectio afflictas angore animas solatur et recreat.

As they rose much earlier than we do, the hours up to noon were divided into two parts: (1) mane, or morning, which lasted from sunrise to the beginning of the third hour, and (2) ad meridiem, or forenoon; then followed de meridie, i.e. afternoon, and suprema, from about the ninth or tenth hour till sunset.

"Laetus dies hic transeat, Pudor sit ut diluculum, Fides velut meridies, Crepusculum mens nesciat!"[A]