I. Any thing laid or stored up, a hoard, treasure, provision, store.
A. Lit.: “TABVLARIVS THENSAVRORVM,” Inscr. Orell. 3247: “thensaurum effodere,” Plaut. Trin. 3, 3, 53; 4, 4, 8; id. Ps. 2, 2, 33; id. Aul. prol. 7: “thesaurum defodere ... invenire,” Cic. Div. 2, 65, 134: “nec vero quemquam senem audivi oblitum, quo loco thesaurum obruisset,” id. Sen. 7, 21: “non exercitus neque thensauri praesidia regni sunt, verum amici,” Sall. J. 10, 4: “intactis opulentior Thesauris Arabum,” Hor. C. 3, 24, 2.—
2. Law t. t., treasure trove: “thensaurus est vetus quaedam depositio pecuniae, cujus non exstat memoria, ut jam dominum non habeat,” Dig. 41, 1, 31, § 1; 41, 2, 3, § 3; Cod. 10, 15, 1.—
B. Trop. (very rare): “thesaurus mali,” a great quantity, Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 54: stupri, id. Fragm. ap. Non. 456, 19; cf.: augent ex pauxillo; “thensaurum inde pariunt,” id. Most. 4, 1, 8: “thesauros penitus abditae fraudis vultu laeto tegentes,” App. M. 5, p. 165, 15. —
2. Of persons, a treasure, loved one, a valued or dear object: Di. Quid, amator novos quispiam? Ast. Integrum et plenum adortust thensaurum, Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 13; cf. id. ib. 2, 1, 34: “eccum lenonem, incedit, thensaurum meum,” id. Curc. 5, 2, 76; cf.: “thensaurus copiarum,” id. As. 3, 3, 67.—
II. A place where any thing is stored up, a storehouse, treasure - chamber, treasure - vault, treasury (cf.: cella, armarium).
A. Lit.: “monedula condens semina in thesauros cavernarum,” id. 17, 14, 22, § 99; cf. poet., of the cells of bees, Verg. G. 4, 229: “admonent quidam, esse thesaurum publicum sub terrā saxo quadrato septum,” Liv. 39, 50, 3: “Proserpinae,” id. 29, 8, 9; 29, 18, 4; 31, 12, 1; cf. poet. of the Lower World: postquam est Orcino traditus thesauro, Naev. ap. Gell. 1, 24, 2.—
2. Esp., a strong-box, treasure-chest: “cum thesaurum effregisset heres,” Plin. 34, 7, 17, § 37: “apertis thesauris suis,” Vulg. Matt. 2, 11.—
B. Trop., a repository, conservatory, magazine, collection, Plaut. Poen. 3, 3, 12: “quid dicam de thesauro rerum omnium, memoria?” Cic. de Or. 1, 5, 18; Quint. 11, 2, 1; cf.: “thesauri argumentorum,” Cic. Part. Or. 31, 109: “suppeditat nobis Atticus noster de thesauris suis quos et quantos viros,” id. Fin. 2, 21, 67: thesauros oportet esse non libros, Plin. praef. § 17; cf.: “mihi quoties aliquid abditum quaero, ille thesaurus est,” a literary storehouse, Plin. Ep. 1, 22, 2.—
III. The title of a Greek play by Philemon, upon which Plautus founded the Trinummus, Plaut. Trin. prol. 18.