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arrha , ae, f., and arrhăbo (also without aspiration arra and arrăbo ), ōnis, m. (the latter form ante-class.; cf. Gell. 17, 2, 21; in Cic. the word is never used), = ἀρραβών [from the Heb. from , to give security],
I.the money given to ratify a contract, earnest-money, purchase-money, a pledge, an earnest (arrha is a part of the purchase-money, while pignus is a pledge to be restored when the contract, for security of which it is given, Las been performed, Isid. Orig. 5, 25).
I. Lit.: “arraboni has dedit quadraginta minas,” Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 115; id. Rud. prol. 46; id. Poen. 5, 6, 22: Ea relicta huic arrabonist pro illo argento, * Ter. Heaut. 3, 3, 42: tantus arrabo, Quadrig. ap. Gell. 17, 2, 20 (i. e. sexcentos obsides, Gell.): “dederis mihi arrabonem,” Vulg. Gen. 38, 17: “pro arrabone dari,” ib. ib. 38, 18.—Jestingly shortened into rabo: “rabonem habeto, mecum ut hanc noctem sies,” Plaut. Truc. 3, 2, 20 sq.—
II. Trop.: “arrabo amoris,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 1, 11; Dig. 18, 1, 35; Plin. 33, 1, 6, § 28; “and so ironically: mortis arra,” money given to physicians, Plin. 29, 1, 8, § 21.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (9 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (9):
    • Old Testament, Genesis, 38.17
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 4.1
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 3.1
    • Plautus, Poenulus, 5.6
    • Plautus, Truculentus, 3.2
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 29.21
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 33.28
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 17.2.20
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 17.2.21
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