I.a rose.
I. Lit., Varr R. R. 1, 35, 1; Plin. 21, 4, 10, § 14: “Paestanae rosae,” Mart. 4, 42, 10: “cape rosas,” id. 2, 59, 3; “sacred to Venus,” Aus. Idyll. 14; cf. id. ib. 6, 76 and 92; “blooms latest of the spring flowers,” Plin. 21, 11, 38, § 64.—Hence, sera, Hor. C. 1, 38, 3; cf. “Cicero's reproach: cum rosam viderat, tum incipere ver arbitrabatur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27.—Used on festive and solemn occasions for wreaths, for strewing in the way or upon graves, at feasts, etc., Lucr. 2, 627; Hor. C. 1, 36, 15; 2, 11, 14; 3, 19, 22; 29, 3; Prop. 1, 17, 22; 3, 5 (4, 4), 22; 4 (5), 8, 40; Plin. 18, 26, 64, § 236; Sen. Hippol. 769; Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 34; Tac. H. 2, 70 et saep.; cf. Becker, Gall. 3, p. 32 (2d edit.): plena rosarum Atria. Ov. M. 2, 113.— Prov.: inter vepres rosae nascuntur, Amm. 16, 7, 4. —
B. Collect., for roses, wreaths of roses (only so in class. prose): “sertis redimiri jubebis et rosā?” Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 43: “an tu me in violā putabas aut in rosā dicere?” on, among roses, id. ib. 5, 26, 73: “in rosā potare,” id. Fin. 2, 20, 65: “jacere,” Sen. Ep. 36, 9: “vivere,” Mart. 8, 77, 2; cf.: “multā in rosā,” Hor. C. 1, 5, 1: “pulvinus perlucidus rosā fartus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27.—
II. Transf.
A. As a word of endearment, in Plautus: “mea rosa,” my rose, my rosebud, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 74; id. Bacch. 1, 1, 50; “or simply rosa,” id. Men. 1, 3, 9: “tu mihi rosa es,” id. Curc. 1, 2, 6.—
C. The season or month of roses, Inscr. Grut. 753, 4; cf. rosales.—
D. The rose-bush, rose-tree: “nimium breves Flores amoenae ferre jube rosae,” Hor. C. 2, 3, 14: “radix silvestris rosae,” Plin. 8, 41, 63, § 152.—Plur.: “flores rosarum,” Lucr. 2, 627; cf. Hor. C. 3, 29, 3: “terram ad rosarum et vineae satum vertere,” Plin. 18, 26, 64, § 236.