Plural of fetial; priests of ancient Rome who conducted diplomatic and war-declaration ceremonies, or the institution itself.
From fetial + -s (English plural marker), using the English rather than Latin pluralization convention for historical discussions in English texts.
When English speakers talk about Roman institutions, they sometimes use Latin plurals (fetiales) and sometimes English plurals (fetials) depending on whether they're using the word in a Latin context or an English history context. This mixing shows how language carries cultural layers.
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