I.a married woman, wife, matron (whether she was in manu or not; consequently more general in its application than mater familias, which always denoted one who was in manu).
I. In gen.: matronam dictam esse proprie, quae in matrimonium cum viro convenisset, quoad in eo matrimonio maneret, etiamsi liberi nondum nati forent: dictamque esse ita a matris nomine non adepto jam sed cum spe et omine mox adipiscendi: unde ipsum quoque matrimonium dicitur; “matrem autem familias appellatam esse eam solam, quae in mariti manu mancipioque, aut in ejus, in cujus maritus, manu mancipicque esset: quoniam non in matrimonium tantum, sed in familiam quoque mariti, et in sui heredis locum venisset,” Gell. 18, 6, 8 and 9: “convocatis plebeis matronis,” Liv. 10, 23, 6.—Only rarely of a married woman, woman in general: “ut matronarum hic facta pernovit probe,” Plaut. Aul. 3, 5, 30: “quae (dea) quia partus matronarum tueatur,” Cic. N. D. 3, 18, 47; cf.: et fetus matrona dabit, * Tib. 2, 5, 91: “cum prole matronisque nostris,” Hor. C. 4, 15, 27: “tyranni,” id. ib. 3, 2, 7: matronae muros complent, Enn. ap. Serv ad Verg. G. 1, 18 (Ann. v 376 Vahl.): tum muros variā cinxere coronā Matronae, * Verg. A. 11, 476: matronae tacitae spectent, tacitae rideant Plaut. Poen. prol. 32 Suet. Ner. 27: “matronas prostratae pudicitiae,” id. Tib. 35: “dilectae adulter matronae,” Juv. 10, 319.—
II. Esp.
A. The word very early acquired the accessory idea of (moral or social) dignity, rank. Matronae is thus used even by Ennius of women of quality, ladies: matronae opulentae, optimates, Enn. ap. Cic. Fam. 7, 6 (Trag. v. 294 Vahl.); cf.“, in like manner, in Plautus: ubi istas videas summo genere natas Summates matronas,” Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 26; “so Cicero applies to the noble women carried off from the Sabines the term matronae,” Cic. Rep. 2, 7, 13: “matrona laris,” the lady of the house, Juv. 3, 110.—
B. With the accessory idea of estimable, virtuous, chaste, etc.: nominis matronae sanctitudinem, Afran. ap. Non. 174, 9: “eam hic ornatam adducas ad matronarum modum,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 196 Brix ad loc.; cf.: “matronarum sanctitas,” Cic. Cael. 13, 32: “VETERIS SANCTITATIS MATRONA,” Inscr. Orell. 2739. So opp. meretrix, Plaut. Cist. 1, 1, 80; cf. id. Most. 1, 3, 33; id. Cas. 3, 3, 22: “ut matrona meretrici dispar erit atque Discolor,” Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 3; Plaut. Stich. 1, 2, 48: “matronae praeter faciem nil cernere possis, etc.,” Hor. S. 1, 2, 94: “capitis matrona pudici,” Juv. 6, 49.—
C. Hence, an appellation of Juno: “hinc matrona Juno (stetit),” Hor. C. 3, 4, 59: “MATRONIS IVNONIBVS,” Inscr. Orell. 2085; “and of other protecting goddesses of places,” ib. 2081 sq. (But not of vestals; v. Drak. ad Liv. 29, 14, 12.)
