I. Pertaining to Ceres, devoted to her, and, meton., pertaining to the cultivation of land, grain, or agriculture: “nemus,” sacred to Ceres, Ov. M. 8, 741: “sacrum,” id. Am. 3, 10, 1: “Eleusin,” id. F. 4, 507; id. M. 7, 439 (cf. Mel. 2, 3, 4: “Eleusin Cereri consecrata): papaver (as her symbolic attribute),” Verg. G. 1, 212 Heyne; Col. 10, 314: “cenae,” i. e. splendid, like those at the festivals of Ceres, Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 25: “sulci,” Ov. Tr. 3, 12, 11: “munera,” id. M. 11, 121; 13, 639: “dona,” id. ib. 11, 122; id. F. 1, 683; 6, 391 (cf.: “dona Cereris,” id. M. 5, 655): “herbae,” id. F. 4, 911: “libum,” id. ib. 1, 127: “semina,” id. M. 1, 123: “culmus,” Verg. G. 2, 517: “arma,” i. e. the implements for grinding and baking, id. A. 1, 177: “solum,” i. e. the cake laid on the ground, id. ib. 7, 111 (cf. id. ib. v. 109): aediles, who had the superintendence of provisions; v. aedilis fin.—Hence,
B. Subst.: Cĕrĕālĭa , ium, n. (also in appos.: “Cerealia ludi,” Liv. 30, 39, 8; cf.: Megalesia ludi, al.), the festival of Ceres, celebrated on the 10th of April, Cic. Att. 2, 12, 2 and 4; Varr. L. L. 6, § 15 Müll.; Ov. F. 4, 619; cf. id. ib. 389 sq.—
II. A Roman cognomen, Mart. 4, 8; 12, 52.