Equities Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 8,623,956	$ 8,622,916	$ 8,617,530	$ 8,402,229	$ 8,292,092	$ 8,165,028	$ 8,617,530	$ 8,165,028
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,009)	(10,585)	(1,638)	(22,313)	14,884	389	(14,232)	(7,040)
Ending Balance	8,780,286	8,623,956	8,622,916	8,411,709	8,402,229	8,292,092	8,780,286	8,411,709
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	(163,659)	(167,405)	(172,478)	(135,816)	(137,818)	(140,335)	(172,478)	(140,335)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(340)	0	(85)	(164)	102	175
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	4,977	4,977	4,977	2,564	2,564	2,565
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	4,637	4,977	4,892	2,400	2,666	2,740
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(1,147)	(1,231)	181	(904)	(664)	(639)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3,490	3,746	5,073	1,496	2,002	2,101
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						416
Ending Balance	(160,169)	(163,659)	(167,405)	(134,320)	(135,816)	(137,818)	(160,169)	(134,320)
AOCI, Accumulated Gain (Loss), Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				0	0	8,861		8,861
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax				0	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax				0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax				0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax				0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				0	0	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						(8,861)
Ending Balance				0	0	0		0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	3,613	9,425	15,297	3,763	(6,206)	(5,882)	15,297	(5,882)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	7,795	(5,975)	(3,331)	(19,680)	18,954	(317)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	1,263	(1,747)	(4,473)	(1,385)	(5,677)	(1,475)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	9,058	(7,722)	(7,804)	(21,065)	13,277	(1,792)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(2,241)	1,910	1,932	5,248	(3,308)	485
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	6,817	(5,812)	(5,872)	(15,817)	9,969	(1,307)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						983
Ending Balance	10,430	3,613	9,425	(12,054)	3,763	(6,206)	10,430	(12,054)
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	(79,110)	(70,591)	(69,752)	(57,295)	(60,208)	(62,559)	(69,752)	(62,559)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax		(8,540)	(2,411)	(7,725)	3,176	(25)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	(12,515)	0	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	(12,515)	(8,540)	(2,411)	(7,725)	3,176	(25)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	199	21	1,572	(267)	(263)	(380)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(12,316)	(8,519)	(839)	(7,992)	2,913	(405)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						2,756
Ending Balance	(91,426)	(79,110)	(70,591)	(65,287)	(57,295)	(60,208)	(91,426)	(65,287)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	(239,156)	(228,571)	(226,933)	(189,348)	(204,232)	(199,915)	(226,933)	(199,915)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(5,060)	(14,515)	(5,827)	(27,569)	22,232	(167)
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax	6,240	3,230	504	1,179	(3,113)	1,090
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	1,180	(11,285)	(5,323)	(26,390)	19,119	923
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(3,189)	700	3,685	4,077	(4,235)	(534)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,009)	(10,585)	(1,638)	(22,313)	14,884	389
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax						(4,706)
Ending Balance	$ (241,165)	$ (239,156)	$ (228,571)	$ (211,661)	$ (189,348)	$ (204,232)	$ (241,165)	$ (211,661)