Debt Maturities (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2012		Aug. 31, 2011		Feb. 28, 2011	Aug. 31, 2009
Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal [Line Items]
Fair value adjustment related to terminated interest rate swaps on the 7.750% Senior Notes	9,197	[1]	11,570	[1]
7.750% Senior Notes Due 2016
Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal [Line Items]
Senior Notes, stated interest rate	7.75%	[2]	7.75%	[2]	7.75%	7.75%

[1] This amount represents the fair value hedge accounting adjustment related to the 7.750% Senior Notes. For further discussion of the Company's fair value hedges, see Note 12-"Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities" to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

[2] During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company issued $312.0 million of seven-year, publicly-registered 7.750% notes (the "7.750% Senior Notes") at 96.1% of par, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $300.0 million. The 7.750% Senior Notes mature on July 15, 2016 and pay interest semiannually on January 15 and July 15. The 7.750% Senior Notes are the Company's senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. The Company is subject to covenants such as limitations on its and/or its subsidiaries' ability to: consolidate or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Company's assets to, another person; create certain liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; create, incur, issue, assume or guarantee funded debt (which only applies to the Company's "restricted subsidiaries"); and guarantee any of the Company's indebtedness (which only applies to the Company's subsidiaries). The Company is also subject to a covenant requiring its repurchase of the 7.750% Senior Notes upon a "change of control repurchase event."