I. Of or pertaining to silver (cf. argentum, I. A.): “metalla,” silver-mines, Plin. 33, 5, 26, § 86: “plumbum,” a mixture of tin and lead, id. 34, 9, 20, § 95, and 34, 17, 48, § “160: creta,” for polishing silver, tripoli, rottenstone, id. 35, 17, 58, § 199: “faber,” a worker in silver, silver-smith, Dig. 34, 2, 39.—
II. Of or pertaining to money (cf. argentum, I. B. 2.): “amore pereo et inopiā argentariā,” am dying of love and want of money, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 65; so, “opes,” possessions in money, id. Ep. 5, 2, 7: “auxilium,” pecuniary assistance, id. Ps. 1, 1, 103: “sunt meretrices omnes elecebrae argentariae,” enticers away of money, id. Men. 2, 3, 26: “cura,” care of money, Ter. Phorm. 5, 7, 3: “taberna,” a banker's stall, bank, Liv. 26, 11; so, “mensa,” a banking-table, Dig. 2, 13, 4 al.—Hence subst. in all genders, like aerarius, harenarius, etc. (only thus in Cic., never as an adj.).
A. argentārĭus , ii, m.
1. A money-changer, banker (by whom much business was transacted, since all business transactions were committed to writing by them; cf. Dig. 2, 13, 10), Plaut. As. 1, 1, 103; so id. ib. 1, 1, 113; id. Aul. 3, 5, 53; id. Pers. 3, 3, 29 al.; Cic. Caecin. 6: “argentarii tabulae,” id. ib. 6; Suet. Aug. 2; id. Ner. 5.—
2. (Sc. faber.) A silver-smith, Vulg. Jud. 17, 4; ib. Sap. 15, 9; ib. Isa. 40, 19: “Demetrius, argentarius faciens aedes argenteas Dianae,” ib. Act. 19, 24; Inscr. Orell. 913; 995; 4146.—
B. argentārĭa , ae, f. (sc. taberna).
1. A banking-house, a bank, Plaut. Truc. 1, 1, 47; so id. ib. 1, 1, 51; id. Ep. 2, 2, 15; Liv. 9, 40; 26, 27; 40, 51.—
2. (sc. ars.) The vocation or employment of a bank er or broker: “M. Fulcinius, qui Romae argentariam non ignobilem fecit,” Cic. Caecin. 4: “argentariā dissolutā,” after the dissolution, closing up, of the bank, id. ib. 4: “exercere,” Dig. 2, 13, 4: “administrare,” ib. 2, 13, 4.—
3. (Sc. fodina; cf.: aeraria, harenaria, ferraria, etc.) A silver-mine, Liv. 34, 21; Tac. A. 6, 19 (conj. of Weissenb.).—*
C. argentārĭum , ii, n., a place for keeping silver, a cupboard or safe for plate, Dig. 34, 2, 19, § 8.
