Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2014	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2014	May 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 50,557	$ 46,077	$ 105,866	$ 102,462
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	70,432	73,133	71,915	72,957
Net effect of dilutive securities—stock based compensation plans	1,338	1,654	1,603	1,534
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	71,770	74,787	73,518	74,491
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.63	$ 1.47	$ 1.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.62	$ 1.44	$ 1.38
Anti-dilutive securities-stock based compensation plans (excluded from earnings per share calculation)	463	656	558	735