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axis , is, m. kindred with Gr. ἄξων; Sanscr. akshas = axle, wheel; old Germ. Ahsa; mod. Germ. Achse; Engl. axle, Bopp, Gloss. p. 2, a; cf. Aufrecht, Zeitschr. für vergl. Sprachf. 8, p. 71.
I. Lit., an axletree, about which a round body, e.g. a wheel, turns: “faginus axis,Verg. G. 3, 172: “axes aerii,Vulg. 3 Reg. 7, 30; “7, 33: axis versatilis,ib. Eccli. 33, 5 al.Meton. (pars pro toto), a chariot, car, wagon, Ov. M. 2, 59; id. H. 4, 160; Sen. Herc. Oet. 1442; Sil. 16, 360 al.Plur., Ov. M. 2, 148; 4, 634.—
II. Transf.
A. The axle of a water-clock, Vitr. 9, 6.—
B. The axis of the earth: mundum versari circum axem caeli, Cic. N. D. 1, 20, 52; so id. Ac. 2, 39, 123; id. Tim. 10; Lucr. 6, 1107.—Hence, meton.
a. The pole, Luc. 7, 422: “axis inocciduus,id. 8, 175: “meridianus,Vitr. 6, 1.—
b. Esp., the north pole, Lucr. 6, 720; Cic. Tusc. 1, 28, 68; Verg. G. 2, 271; 3, 351; Ov. P. 4, 7, 2; Manil. 4, 589.—
c. The whole heavens: “maximus Atlas Axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum,Verg. A. 4, 482; 6, 536; Ov. M. 1, 255; 2, 75; 2, 297; 6, 175; id. Tr. 1, 2, 46; Stat. Th. 5, 86; id. S. 3, 3, 76 al.—Hence, sub axe, under the open heaven, Verg. A. 2, 512; 8, 28.—
d. A region of the heavens, a clime: “boreus,the north, Ov. Tr. 4, 8, 41: “hesperius,the west, id. M. 4, 214; Luc. 3, 359.—
C. A pin or hook on which a hinge turns, Stat. Th. 1, 346.—
D. The valve of a pipe, Vitr. 10, 12.—
E. Axes volutarum, in archit., the axes of a volute, Vitr. 3, 3.—
G. An unknown wild animal in India, Plin. 8, 21, 31, § 76.
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