precious stones

gemmĕus, a, um, adj. [id.], of precious stones, set or adorned with precious stones.

Lit.:

mittit etiam trullam gemmeam rogatum,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 27, § 63:

supellex,

Sen. Ep. 110 med.:

juga,

Ov. F. 2, 74.—

Transf.

Like a jewel or precious stone:

radix gemmeae rotunditatis,

Plin. 18, 7, 13, § 71.—

Glittering, shining, sparkling, like jewels:

pictisque plumis gemmeam caudam explicas,

Phaedr. 3, 18, 8; cf.:

gemmei pavones,

Mart. 3, 58, 13 (and v. gemma, II. 2. c.):

Euripus viridis et gemmeus,

Plin. Ep. 1, 3, 1; cf.:

prata florida et gemmea,

id. ib. 5, 6, 11:

quos rumor albā gemmeus vehit pennā,

Mart. 10, 3, 10.

gemma, ae, f. [cf. Gr. gemô, to be full; Lat. gumia;

lit. a fulness, swelling. The ancients supposed the original meaning to be a precious stone,

Quint. 8, 6, 6; cf. Cic. Or. 24, 81; id. de Or. 3, 38, 155], a bud, eye, or gem on a plant.

Lit.:

ineunte vere exsistit tamquam ad articulos sarmentorum ea, quae gemma dicitur,

Cic. de Sen. 15, 53:

(pampinus) trudit gemmas et frondes explicat omnes,

Verg. G. 2, 335;

jam laeto turgent in palmite gemmae,

id. E. 7, 48; Col. 4, 29, 4.—

Transf. (from the resemblance to buds in shape and color), a precious stone, esp. one already cut, a jewel, gem, the predom. signif. of the word (opp. lapillus, one that is opaque, v. Dig. 34, 2, 19, § 17; cf.

also: margarita, unio): nego in Sicilia tota... ullam gemmam aut margaritam, quicquam ex auro aut ebore factum... quin conquisierit, etc.,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1:

pocula ex auro gemmis distincta clarissimis,

id. ib. 2, 4, 27, §

62: vas vinarium ex una gemma pergrandi,

id. ib.:

Cyri ornatus Persicus multo auro multisque gemmis,

id. de Sen. 17, 59:

gemmas sunt qui non habeant,

Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 180:

cum virides gemmas collo circumdedit (mulier),

Juv. 6, 458:

non gemmis venale,

Hor. C. 2, 16, 7:

vitrea,

i. e. a false gem, Plin. 35, 6, 30, § 48;

also called facticia,

id. 37, 7, 26, § 98:

nec premit articulos lucida gemma meos,

Ov. H. 15, 74:

nec sufferre queat majoris pondera gemmae,

Juv. 1, 29: usus luxuriantis aetatis signaturas pretiosis gemmis coepit insculpere, Capitol. ap. Macr. S. 7, 13, 11; Vulg. Exod. 25, 7 et saep. —

Transf.

A drinking-vessel, goblet or cup, made of a precious stone:

nec bibit e gemma divite nostra sitis,

Prop. 3, 5 (4, 4), 4; cf.:

ut gemmā bibat,

Verg. G. 2, 506:

gemmā ministrare,

Sen. Prov. 3 fin.; cf.

also: in gemma posuere merum,

Ov. M. 8, 572.—

A seal ring, signet:

protinus impressā signat sua crimina gemmā,

Ov. M. 9, 566; cf. Plin. 37, 1, 2, § 3; 37, 5, 20, § 78: arguit ipsorum quos littera gemmaque, Juv. 13, 138; 1, 68.—Hence, comically: Pl. Opsecro parentis ne meos mihi prohibeas? Cu. Quid? ego sub gemmane apstrussos habeo tuam matrem et patrem? i. e. under lock and key, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 8.—

A pearl ( poet.): legitur rubris gemma sub aequoribus. Prop. 1, 14, 12:

cedet Erythraeis eruta gemma vadis,

Mart. 8, 28, 14. —

The eyes of the peacock's tail:

gemmis caudam stellantibus implet,

Ov. M. 1, 723; cf.:

gemmea cauda,

Phaedr. 3, 18, 8). —

Trop., like gem in English, ornament, beauty (post-Aug. and very rare):

multas in digitis, plures in carmine gemmas Invenies,

Mart. 5, 11, 3:

Hesperius gemma amicorum,

Sid. Ep. 4, 22.

* * *

bĭgemmis, e, adj. [bis-gemma].

Set with two precious stones: anulus, Val. ap. Treb. Claud. 14.—

Transf., of plants, having two buds, Col. 5, 5, 11.

căpillāmentum, i, n. [id.].

The hair, collect., Plin. 16, 10, 16, § 38; esp. false hair, a peruke, Suet. Calig. 11; Petr. 110, 5, Tert. Cult. Fem. 7.—

Transf.

The hairy threads or fibres of the roots or leaves of plants, etc.:

capillamenta vitis,

Sen. Ep. 86, 20:

seminum,

Col. 4, 11, 1; 4, 22, 4:

radicum,

Plin. 19, 6, 31, § 99; 27, 12, 80, § 105.—

Hair-like streaks on precious stones:

rimae simile,

Plin. 37, 2, 10, § 28; 37, 5, 18, § 68.

căpillātūra, ae, f. [id.], prop., the being hairy; and then per meton., the hair; esp. false hair (post-Aug.), Plin. 37, 11, 73, § 190; Tert. Cult. Fem. 7; Cael. Aur. Tard. 1, 1, 35; id. Acut. 1, 4, 79; 2, 9, 41.—

Transf., the hair-like streaks in precious stones, Plin. 37, 11, 73, § 190.

cāro, ĕre, v. a. [cf. Gr. keirô; Germ. scheren; Engl. sheer], to card (very rare), Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 46; and in Naev. acc. to Varr. L. L. 7, § 54 Müll., p. 92 Bip. (cf.: caritores, 2. carmen, 2. carmino, etc.).

căro, carnis (nom. carnis, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 684 P.; Liv. 37, 3, 4; abl. carni, Plaut. Capt. 4, 4, 6), f. [Sanscr. kravya; Gr. kreas; Germ. Kern], flesh (animal or vegetable).

Lit., of animals:

deturbavit totum cum carni carnarium,

Plaut. Capt. 4, 4, 6:

carnem Latinis petere,

Cic. Planc. 9, 23; id. Pis. 27, 67:

alicui carnem dare,

Liv. 32, 1, 9; 37, 3, 4:

lacte et carne vivere,

Caes. B. G. 5, 14; 6, 22:

ferina,

venison, Sall. J. 89, 7:

cruda,

Suet. Ner. 37:

tosta,

Ov. M. 12, 156 al.; cf.

humana,

Plin. 6, 30, 35, § 195.—So also freq. in plur., Enn. Ann. 327 Vahl.; Ov. M. 2, 769; 14, 208; Plin. 23, 7, 64, § 126 et saep.— The flesh, pulp, of fruits, Plin. 15, 24, 27, § 96; 28, 14, 58, § 205; Pall. Febr. 25, 12; id. Nov. 17, 1.—Also the inner, white part of the wood of trees, under the alburnum, Plin. 16, 38, 72, § 181.—

Esp., of the human body (in opp. to the spirit), as the seat of the passions:

animus liber habitat: numquam me caro ista compellet ad metum,

Sen. Ep. 65, 22.—In contempt:

caro putida,

of a stupid person, Cic. Pis. 9, 19.—

Meton., of precious stones, the Gr. sarkion, the soft part, Plin. 37, 5, 18, § 73.—

Trop., of discourse, richness:

Aeschines carnis plus habet, minus lacertorum,

Quint. 10, 1, 77 Spald. and Frotsch.

cārō, adv., v. carus fin.

centrum, i, n., = kentron (a prickle, sharp point).

Centrum circini, the stationary foot of the compasses, around which the other is carried in making a circle, Vitr. 3, 1; 9, 5.—Hence,

Meton.

The middle point of a circle, the centre, Vitr. 3, 1; 9, 1; Plin. 2, 15, 13, § 63; 2, 19, 17, § 81 et saep.—In plur.:

solis terraeque centra,

Plin. 18, 29, 69, § 281 (in Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40, used as a Greek word).—

A kernel, a hard knot in the interior of wood, precious stones, etc., Plin. 16, 39, 76, § 198; 37, 2, 10, § 28; 37, 9, 39, § 120 al.

crassus, a, um, adj. [Sanscr. kart-, to spin; cf.: crates, cartilago, etc.]; as opp. to flowing, thin, lean, delicate, etc., solid, thick, dense, fat, gross, etc. (freq. and class. in prose and poetry).

Lit.:

semina (opp. liquida),

Lucr. 4, 1259; cf.:

crassius semen,

id. 4, 1244:

corpus,

id. 6, 857:

unguentum,

Hor. A. P. 375:

paludes,

Verg. G. 2, 110:

cruor,

id. A. 5, 469:

aquae,

greatly swollen, Ov. Am. 3, 6, 8:

ager,

Varr. R. R. 1, 24, 1; Cic. Fl. 29, 71; cf.:

terga (agri),

Verg. G. 2, 236:

homo,

Ter. Hec. 3, 4, 26:

turdi,

Mart. 2, 40:

toga,

Hor. S. 1, 3, 15; cf.

filum,

Cic. Fam. 9, 12, 2; Ov. H. 9, 77:

restis,

Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 38:

digiti crassi tres, as a measure,

Cato, R. R. 40, 4.—

Esp., of the atmosphere, thick, dense, heavy:

aër crassus et concretus,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 18, 42; cf.:

crassissimus aër,

id. N. D. 2, 6, 17:

caelum Thebis (opp. tenue Athenis),

id. Fat. 4, 7:

Baeotum in crasso jurares aëre natum,

Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 244; Juv. 10, 50: caligo nubis, Lucr. [p. 478] 6, 461; cf.:

caliginis aër Crassior,

id. 4, 350 al.:

vitrum crassiore visu,

less transparent, Plin. 36, 26, 67, § 196.—

Trop. (rare;

not in Cic.): crassum infortunium,

i. e. a sound beating, Plaut. Rud. 3, 5, 53: senes, stupid, dull, Varr. ap. Non. p. 86, 24:

Ofellus Rusticus abnormis sapiens crassāque Minervā,

i. e. dull, stolid, Hor. S. 2, 2, 3; cf.:

crassiore ut vocant Musa,

Quint. 1, 10, 28:

turba,

uncultivated, Mart. 9, 23:

neglegentia,

stupid, clumsy, Dig. 22, 6, 6: crassiora nomina, more rude or barbarous, Mart. 12, 18, 12; cf. Gell. 13, 20, 15.—Hence, adv.: crassē (rare; not in Cic.), thickly.

Lit.:

picare vasa,

Col. 12, 44, 5; cf.

oblinere,

Scrib. Comp. 46.—

Grossly, rudely:

crasse illepideve compositum poëma (the figure taken from a coarse web),

Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 76.—Of precious stones, not clearly, dimly ( comp.), Plin. 37, 7, 31, § 106; 37, 8, 36, § 114.—Hence of the indistinct understanding of any thing, not clearly, confusedly:

crasse et summatim et obscure intellegere aliquid,

Sen. Ep. 121, 11.

Crassus, i, m., a family name in the gens Licinia. The most distinguished were,

L. Licinius Crassus, a celebrated orator, a contemporary of Cicero, Cic. Brut. 38, 143; id. Off. 1, 30, 108 et saep.; cf. id. Brut. prol. pp. 68-77 Ellendt.—

M. Licinius Crassus, the triumvir.—Hence, Crassĭānus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to the triumvir Crassus:

exercitūs clades (in the war with the Parthians),

Vell. 2, 82, 2; cf.:

Crassiana clades,

Plin. 6, 16, 18, § 47; Flor. 4, 9, 7.

crassus, a, um, adj. [Sanscr. kart-, to spin; cf.: crates, cartilago, etc.]; as opp. to flowing, thin, lean, delicate, etc., solid, thick, dense, fat, gross, etc. (freq. and class. in prose and poetry).

Lit.:

semina (opp. liquida),

Lucr. 4, 1259; cf.:

crassius semen,

id. 4, 1244:

corpus,

id. 6, 857:

unguentum,

Hor. A. P. 375:

paludes,

Verg. G. 2, 110:

cruor,

id. A. 5, 469:

aquae,

greatly swollen, Ov. Am. 3, 6, 8:

ager,

Varr. R. R. 1, 24, 1; Cic. Fl. 29, 71; cf.:

terga (agri),

Verg. G. 2, 236:

homo,

Ter. Hec. 3, 4, 26:

turdi,

Mart. 2, 40:

toga,

Hor. S. 1, 3, 15; cf.

filum,

Cic. Fam. 9, 12, 2; Ov. H. 9, 77:

restis,

Plaut. Pers. 5, 2, 38:

digiti crassi tres, as a measure,

Cato, R. R. 40, 4.—

Esp., of the atmosphere, thick, dense, heavy:

aër crassus et concretus,

Cic. Tusc. 1, 18, 42; cf.:

crassissimus aër,

id. N. D. 2, 6, 17:

caelum Thebis (opp. tenue Athenis),

id. Fat. 4, 7:

Baeotum in crasso jurares aëre natum,

Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 244; Juv. 10, 50: caligo nubis, Lucr. [p. 478] 6, 461; cf.:

caliginis aër Crassior,

id. 4, 350 al.:

vitrum crassiore visu,

less transparent, Plin. 36, 26, 67, § 196.—

Trop. (rare;

not in Cic.): crassum infortunium,

i. e. a sound beating, Plaut. Rud. 3, 5, 53: senes, stupid, dull, Varr. ap. Non. p. 86, 24:

Ofellus Rusticus abnormis sapiens crassāque Minervā,

i. e. dull, stolid, Hor. S. 2, 2, 3; cf.:

crassiore ut vocant Musa,

Quint. 1, 10, 28:

turba,

uncultivated, Mart. 9, 23:

neglegentia,

stupid, clumsy, Dig. 22, 6, 6: crassiora nomina, more rude or barbarous, Mart. 12, 18, 12; cf. Gell. 13, 20, 15.—Hence, adv.: crassē (rare; not in Cic.), thickly.

Lit.:

picare vasa,

Col. 12, 44, 5; cf.

oblinere,

Scrib. Comp. 46.—

Grossly, rudely:

crasse illepideve compositum poëma (the figure taken from a coarse web),

Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 76.—Of precious stones, not clearly, dimly ( comp.), Plin. 37, 7, 31, § 106; 37, 8, 36, § 114.—Hence of the indistinct understanding of any thing, not clearly, confusedly:

crasse et summatim et obscure intellegere aliquid,

Sen. Ep. 121, 11.

Crassus, i, m., a family name in the gens Licinia. The most distinguished were,

L. Licinius Crassus, a celebrated orator, a contemporary of Cicero, Cic. Brut. 38, 143; id. Off. 1, 30, 108 et saep.; cf. id. Brut. prol. pp. 68-77 Ellendt.—

M. Licinius Crassus, the triumvir.—Hence, Crassĭānus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to the triumvir Crassus:

exercitūs clades (in the war with the Parthians),

Vell. 2, 82, 2; cf.:

Crassiana clades,

Plin. 6, 16, 18, § 47; Flor. 4, 9, 7.

Ē̆trūrĭa ( Het-), ae, f., a country of central Italy, Mel. 2, 4, 2; Plin. 3, 5, 8, § 50; Cic. Div. 1, 41, 92; id. Cat. 2, 3 fin.; Varr. L. L. 5, § 32 Müll.; Liv. 1, 35, 9; Verg. A. 8, 494; 12, 232 et saep.—Deriv.,

Ē̆truscus, a, um, adj., of Etruria, Etruscan:

litus,

Mel. 2, 7, 19; Hor. C. 1, 2, 14; id. C. Sec. 38; id. Epod. 16, 40:

mare,

id. C. 3, 29, 35:

juga,

Verg. A. 8, 480:

duces,

id. ib. 11, 598:

manus Porsenae,

Hor. Epod. 16, 4:

disciplina,

the Etruscan religion, Cic. Fam. 6, 6, 3; Plin. 2, 83, 85, § 199; 10, 15, 17, § 37; cf.

haruspices,

Gell. 4, 5, 5:

litterae,

Liv. 9, 36:

coronae,

made of gold and precious stones, and worn by those who triumphed, Plin. 21, 3, 4, § 6.— Sing., Plin. 33, 1, 4, § 11; Tert. de Coron. 13:

aurum,

a golden amulet worn by Roman boys of noble birth, Juv. 5, 164 et saep.— Subst.: Etrusci, ōrum, m., the Etruscans, Cic. Div. 1, 42; Liv. 1, 34; 2, 7 et saepiss.

Ē̆trūrĭa ( Het-), ae, f., a country of central Italy, Mel. 2, 4, 2; Plin. 3, 5, 8, § 50; Cic. Div. 1, 41, 92; id. Cat. 2, 3 fin.; Varr. L. L. 5, § 32 Müll.; Liv. 1, 35, 9; Verg. A. 8, 494; 12, 232 et saep.—Deriv.,

Ē̆truscus, a, um, adj., of Etruria, Etruscan:

litus,

Mel. 2, 7, 19; Hor. C. 1, 2, 14; id. C. Sec. 38; id. Epod. 16, 40:

mare,

id. C. 3, 29, 35:

juga,

Verg. A. 8, 480:

duces,

id. ib. 11, 598:

manus Porsenae,

Hor. Epod. 16, 4:

disciplina,

the Etruscan religion, Cic. Fam. 6, 6, 3; Plin. 2, 83, 85, § 199; 10, 15, 17, § 37; cf.

haruspices,

Gell. 4, 5, 5:

litterae,

Liv. 9, 36:

coronae,

made of gold and precious stones, and worn by those who triumphed, Plin. 21, 3, 4, § 6.— Sing., Plin. 33, 1, 4, § 11; Tert. de Coron. 13:

aurum,

a golden amulet worn by Roman boys of noble birth, Juv. 5, 164 et saep.— Subst.: Etrusci, ōrum, m., the Etruscans, Cic. Div. 1, 42; Liv. 1, 34; 2, 7 et saepiss.

Ē̆trūrĭa ( Het-), ae, f., a country of central Italy, Mel. 2, 4, 2; Plin. 3, 5, 8, § 50; Cic. Div. 1, 41, 92; id. Cat. 2, 3 fin.; Varr. L. L. 5, § 32 Müll.; Liv. 1, 35, 9; Verg. A. 8, 494; 12, 232 et saep.—Deriv.,

Ē̆truscus, a, um, adj., of Etruria, Etruscan:

litus,

Mel. 2, 7, 19; Hor. C. 1, 2, 14; id. C. Sec. 38; id. Epod. 16, 40:

mare,

id. C. 3, 29, 35:

juga,

Verg. A. 8, 480:

duces,

id. ib. 11, 598:

manus Porsenae,

Hor. Epod. 16, 4:

disciplina,

the Etruscan religion, Cic. Fam. 6, 6, 3; Plin. 2, 83, 85, § 199; 10, 15, 17, § 37; cf.

haruspices,

Gell. 4, 5, 5:

litterae,

Liv. 9, 36:

coronae,

made of gold and precious stones, and worn by those who triumphed, Plin. 21, 3, 4, § 6.— Sing., Plin. 33, 1, 4, § 11; Tert. de Coron. 13:

aurum,

a golden amulet worn by Roman boys of noble birth, Juv. 5, 164 et saep.— Subst.: Etrusci, ōrum, m., the Etruscans, Cic. Div. 1, 42; Liv. 1, 34; 2, 7 et saepiss.

fībŭla (post-class. contr. fibla, Apic. 8, 7; Inscr. Orell. 2952; plur. heterocl.: fibula, ōrum, n., Spart. Hadr. 10, 5), ae, f. [contr. from figibula, from figo], that which serves to fasten two things together, a clasp, buckle, pin, latchet, brace.

In gen.

Lit.:

ubi fibula vestem, Vitta coercuerat neglectos alba capillos,

Ov. M. 2, 412;

so on clothes (frequently set with gold and precious stones, and given as a mark of honor to deserving soldiers),

Verg. A. 4, 139; 5, 313; 12, 274; Liv. 27, 19, 12; 39, 31, 18:

fibula crinem Auro internectat,

Verg. A. 7, 815: trabes binis utrimque fibulis ab extrema parte distinebantur, braces, * Caes. B. G. 4, 17, 6; Vitr. 1, 5:

iligneae, ulmeae, etc.,

bands, fillets for making baskets, Cato, R. R. 31, 1.—

Transf.:

P. Blessus Junium hominem nigrum, et macrum, et pandum, fibulam ferream dixit,

Quint. 6, 3, 58.— Trop.:

sententia clavi aliquā vel fibulā terminanda est,

connection, Fronto Laud. Fun. 1:

laxare fibulam delictis voluntariis,

bonds, fetters, Tert. Cor. Mil. 11.—

In partic.

A surgical instrument for drawing together the lips of a wound, Gr. anktêr, Cels. 5, 26, 23; 7, 4.—

A stitching-needle drawn through the prepuce, Cels. 7, 25, 3; Mart. 7, 82, 1; 11, 75, 8; Juv. 6, 73; 379; Sen. ap. Lact. 1, 16; Tert. Cor. Mil. 11; id. Pudic. 16.

gemmo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. n. and a. [gemma].

(Acc. to gemma, I.) To put forth buds, to bud or gem:

id fit antequam gemmare Aut florere quid incipit,

Varr. R. R. 1, 40, 4; Col. 4, 27, 1:

gemmare vites, luxuriem esse in herbis, laetas segetes etiam rustici dicunt,

Cic. de Or. 3, 38, 155; id. Or. 24, 81 (cf.:

necessitate rustici gemmam in vitibus dicunt,

Quint. 8, 6, 6); v. gemma init. —In the part. pres.:

gemmantem oculum caecare,

Col. 4, 24, 16:

vinea,

Plin. 17, 22, 35, § 188:

sarmenta,

Pall. Febr. 32:

surculi rosarum,

id. Nov. 11; for which in the part. perf.:

melius proveniet, si ponendus ramus gemmata jam matre sumatur,

Pall. Mart. 10, 2.—

(Acc. to gemma, II.; poet. and in post-Aug. prose).

Neutr., to be adorned with precious stones, to sparkle with gems.

Lit. (only in the part. pres.):

gemmantia sceptra,

Ov. M. 3, 264:

gemmantia litora,

Manil. 4, 652.—

Transf., to glitter, sparkle, like gems:

herbae gemmantes rore recenti,

Lucr. 2, 319; 5, 461:

gemmantes explicat alas (pavo),

Mart. 13, 70; cf.:

pinnae caudae (pavonis),

Col. 8, 11, 8; Pall. 1, 28, 2 (see also gemma, II. 2. c. and gemmeus, II. B.):

memphites (lapis) gemmantis naturae,

Plin. 36, 7, 11, § 56.

germen, ĭnis, n. [Sanscr. root grabh-, grah-, to conceive; garbh-as, child; whence, brephos (for grephos), germanus, perh. gremium], a sprig, offshoot, sprout, bud ( poet. and in post-Aug. prose).

Lit.:

huc aliena ex arbore germen Includunt,

Verg. G. 2, 76:

serotino germine malus, tardissimo suber,

Plin. 16, 25, 41, § 98; Vulg. Deut. 11, 17 et saep.—In plur.:

inque novos soles audent se germina tuto Credere,

Verg. G. 2, 332; Plin. 18, 10, 21, § 94:

auctumni maturet germina Virgo,

fruits, Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 465:

impleratque uterum generoso germine,

fœtus, embryo, Ov. M. 9, 280; so,

celsa Tonantis,

i. e. daughter, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 76:

servile,

Just. 18, 3 fin.; and of puppies, whelps, Nemes. Cyneg. 155.—

Transf.:

cara maris,

i. e. precious stones, Claud. Ep. ad Ser. 14:

frontis,

i. e. a horn, id. Rapt. Pros. 1, 129.—

Trop., a germ:

rabies unde illaec germina surgunt,

Lucr. 4, 1083:

germen ab aethere trahere,

origin, Prud. Cath. 10, 32: germine nobilis Eulalia, id. steph. 3, 1.

nōdus, i, m. [for gnodus; Sanscr. root gadh-, gandh-, grasp; cf. Gr. Chandanô, hold; gnathos, jaw; Lat. pre-hend-o; Germ. Knoten; Engl. knot], a knot (cf. nexus).

Lit.:

nodus vinculumque,

Cic. Univ. 4: necte tribus nodis ternos, Amarylli, colores, Verg. E. 8, 77:

Cacum Corripit in nodum complexus,

clasping him as in a knot, id. A. 8, 260:

nodos manu diducere,

Ov. M. 2, 560:

nodus Herculis or Herculaneus,

a knot difficult to untie, of which Hercules was held to be the inventor, Plin. 28, 6, 17, § 63:

unus tibi nodus, sed Herculaneus, restat,

Sen. Ep. 87, 38:

tamquam nodus Gordius difficillimus,

Amm. 14, 11, 1: cingulum (novae nuptae) Herculaneo nodo vinctum vir solvit ominis gratia, Paul. ex Fest. s. v. cingulo, p. 63 Müll.—

Transf.

A girdle ( poet.):

nodoque sinus collecta fluentes,

Verg. A. 1, 320; Mart. 6, 13, 5.—

Hence, astronom.: nodus anni,

the circle of the equator, Lucr. 5, 688.—

A mode of dressing the hair, a knot, club:

Rheni nodos,

the hair of the Germans gathered into a club, Mart. 5, 37, 8; cf.:

insigne gentis obliquare crinem nodoque substringere,

Tac. G. 38.—

Plur.:

nodi,

a knotted fishing-net, Manil. 5, 664.—

A knot, knob, node on a joint of an animal's body:

crura sine nodis,

Caes. B. G. 6, 27:

cervix articulorum nodis jungitur,

Plin. 11, 37, 67, § 177; 11, 37, 88, § 217:

dirae nodus hyaenae,

a backbone, dorsal vertebra, Luc. 6, 672.—

Hence, nodi articulorum,

a swelling, tumor on the joints, Plin. 24, 5, 13, § 21; 30, 12, 36, § 110.—

A knot, knob, fold, etc.

In wood or the branches of plants:

baculum sine nodo aduncum tenens,

Liv. 1, 18, 7; Sen. Ben. 7, 9:

stipes gravidus nodis,

Verg. A. 7, 507:

telum solidum nodis,

id. ib. 11, 553:

gracilitas harundinis, distincta nodis,

Plin. 16, 36, 64, § 158; Col. Arb. 3.—Hence, the knotty club of Hercules, Sen. Herc. Oet. 1661.—

Of a writhing serpent:

nixantem nodis seque in sua membra plicantem,

Verg. A. 5, 279.—

Prov.: nodum in scirpo quaerere, to look for knots in a bulrush (which contains none), i. e. to find difficulties where there are none, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 330 Müll. (Sat. v. 46 Vahl.):

in scirpo nodum quaeris,

Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 22; Ter. And. 5, 4, 38.—

A knot, hard part of a thing;

so of metals,

Plin. 34, 13, 37, § 136;

of precious stones,

id. 37, 10, 55, § 150.—

A star in the constellation Pisces, Cic. Arat. 14; Caes. Germ. Arat. 243.—

In astron.:

nodi,

the four points in the heavens where the seasons begin, the nodes, Manil. 3, 618; cf. id. 2, 430.—

Trop.

In gen., a band, bond:

his igitur singulis versibus quasi nodi apparent continuationis,

Cic. Or. 66, 222:

velut laxioribus nodis resolvemus,

Quint. 9, 4, 127:

amabilissimum nodum amicitiae tollere,

Cic. Lael. 14, 51.—

In partic.

A bond, obligation ( poet.):

exsolvere animum nodis religionum,

Lucr. 4, 7:

imponere nodos, i. e. jusjurandum,

Ov. H. 20, 39 Ruhnk.—

A knotty point, difficulty, impediment.— Absol.:

dum hic nodus expediatur non putet senatus nos oportere decedere,

Cic. Att. 5, 21, 3: incideramus in difficilem nodum, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 11, 1.—With gen.:

Abantem interimit, pugnae nodumque moramque,

Verg. A. 10, 428:

cum scopulus et nodus et mora publicae securitatis superesset Antonius,

Flor. 4, 9, 1:

qui juris nodos et legum aenigmata solvat (an allusion to the Gordian knot),

Juv. 8, 50 (hence, Cicuta nodosus; v. nodosus).— Esp.: nodus linguae, the bond or tie of the tongue:

nodum linguae rumpere,

Gell. 5, 9, 2:

nodos linguae solvere,

Just. 13, 7, 6.