I.a guard, watch, preserver, keeper, overseer, protector, defender, attendant, etc., protectress, etc., in a friendly or hostile sense (freq. and class.).
I. In gen.
A. Of living beings.
1. In gen.: antiqua erilis fida custos corporis, Enn. Med. ap. Non. p. 39, 2 (Trag. Rel. v. 289 Vahl.); cf. in masc.: “corporis,” a body-guard, Liv. 24, 7, 4; so plur., Nep. Dat. 9, 3; Suet. Calig. 55 al.: “Commium cum equitatu custodis loco relinquit,” Caes. B. G. 6, 6 fin.: “cum vigillis custodibusque nostris colloqui,” id. B. C. 1, 22 init.: “portae,” Cic. Cat. 2, 12, 27: “fani,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 43, § 94. custos defensorque provinciae, id. ib. 2, 5, 6, § “12: pontis,” Nep. Milt. 3, 1: “patrimonii,” Quint. 4, 2, 73: “hortorum,” Suet. Calig. 59: “gregis,” Verg. E. 10, 36: “pecuniae regiae,” Curt. 5, 1, 20: ipse pecuniae quam regni melior custos, Liv 44, 26, 12: rei publicae custos senatus, Cic. Sest. 65, 137: “templorum,” id. Dom. 55, 141: “custos ac vindex cupiditatum,” id. Agr. 2, 9, 24: “salutis suae,” Quint. 5, 11, 8; Curt. 3, 6, 1; Tac. A. 3, 14 et saep.: “his discipulis privos custodes dabo,” Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 76; so of teachers of youth, id. ib. 4, 3, 19; Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 57; Hor. S. 1, 4, 118; id. A. P. 161; 239: “virtutis (ego) verae custos rigidusque satelles,” id. Ep. 1, 1, 17.—Freq. of the gods, etc.: “dei custodes et conservatores hujus urbis,” Cic. Sest. 24, 53; cf.: “custodi Jovi,” Suet. Dom. 5: “montium custos Diana,” Hor. C. 3, 22, 1: “rerum Caesar,” id. ib. 4, 15, 17: multae tibi tum officient res, Custodes, etc., i. e. attendants of women, eunuchs, etc., id. S. 1, 2, 98 Heind.—Of dogs, Verg. G. 3, 406; Col. 7, 12; “so of Cerberus,” Verg. A. 6, 424 al., and of the constellation Bootes, Ἀρκτοφύλαξ, Vitr. 9, 4, 1: armorum, the officer in charge of the arms in an army or fleet, Dig. 49, 16, 14, § 1; Inscr. Orell. 3630 al.—
2. In civil affairs, t. t., a man who took charge of the vessel into which voting tablets were put (in order to prevent false suffrages), Varr. R. R. 3, 5, 18; Cic. Agr. 2, 9, 22; id. Red. Sen. 7, 17.—
B. Of inanimate subjects.
1. Of abstract subjects: “natura Ipsaque corporis est custos et causa salutis,” Lucr. 3, 324: “haec custos dignitatis (fortitudo),” Cic. Tusc. 2, 14, 33: “sapientia custos et procuratrix totius hominis,” id. Fin. 4, 7, 17; id. Off. 2, 7, 23: “leges diligentissimae pudoris custodes,” Quint. 8, 5, 19 al.—
2. Of receptacles, safes, e. g. of a quiver: “eburnea Telorum custos,” Ov. M. 8, 320; of an incense-box: “turis,” id. ib. 13, 703; and in husbandry, the stump of an amputated vine-branch, i. q. resex, pollex, praesidiarius or subsidiarius palmes, Col. 4, 21, 3.—
II. In a hostile sense.
A. In gen., a watch, spy: “Dumnorigi custodes ponit, ut, quae agat, quibuscum loquatur, scire possit,” Caes. B. G. 1, 20 fin.: “custodem, inquit, Tullio me apponite. Quid, mihi quam multis custodibus opus erit, etc.,” Cic. Div. in Caecil. 16, 51; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 25, § 63; Caes. B. G. 1, 20 fin.: “num nam hic relictu's custos, Nequis, etc.,” Ter. Eun. 2, 2, 55; cf. v. 59; Curt. 5, 11, 2; Suet. Tib. 12 al.—
B. Esp., a jailer, keeper: “carceris,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 57; Nep. Eum. 11, 1; id. Alcib. 4, 4: “quem ex Mauritania rex proditionis insimulatum cum custodibus miserat,” Sall. H. 2, 25 Dietsch: “te sub custode tenebo,” Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 77; Tac. A. 2, 68; 3, 28; 4, 60 al.
