prŏ-festus, a, um, adj. [pro-festus; cf. profanus].
- I. Lit., non-festival, not kept as a holiday, common; of days, workingdays: profestum diem dicebant qui festus non erat, Paul. ex Fest. p. 252 Müll.: profesti dies a festivitate vacui, Non. 434, 3; Plaut. Aul. 2, 8, 11: ut carpentis, festis profestisque diebus, per urbem vectemur, Liv. 34, 3; Hor. S. 2, 3, 144: pejor, qui profestis diebus ageret, quod feriatis deberet, Cato ap Plin. 18, 6, 8, § 40. luces, working-days, Hor C. 4, 15, 25; so, lux, id. S. 2, 2, 116: profestum facere est tamquam profanum facere, id est facere, quod feriis facere non licet, etc., Fest. p. 253 Müll.
- II. Transf., like profanus, uninitiated, uncultivated, uneducated (post-class.): profestum et profanum vulgus, Gell. praef. fin.