I.an opening in the wall to admit the light, a window (orig. closed by two wooden shutters or by curtains, and not till the empire by sheets of mica, lapis specularis; cf. “Dict. of Antiq. p. 520 sq.): neque fenestra, nisi clatrata,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 4, 26: “fenestras indere,” id. Rud. 1, 1, 6: “fenestrarum angustias quod reprehendis,” Cic. Att. 2, 3, 2: “bifores,” Ov. P. 3, 3, 5: juncta, closed, * Hor. C. 1, 25, 1; cf. “patulae,” Ov. M. 14, 752: “reticulatae,” Varr. R. R. 3, 7, 3: “se plena per insertas fundebat luna fenestras,” Verg. A. 3, 152: “diversas percurrens luna fenestras,” Prop. 1, 3, 31 Burm. ad loc.: “fenestram in arca facies,” Vulg. Gen. 6, 16 et saep.—
II. Transf.
1. A loop-hole for arrows, etc.: “(in turri) fenestras ad tormenta mittenda, in struendo reliquerunt,” Caes. B. C. 2, 9 fin.—
2. The recess of a window: “concludere in fenestram firmiter,” Plaut. Cas. 1, 44.—
3. A breach made by besiegers in a wall: “excisa trabe firma cavavit Robora et ingentem lato dedit ore fenestram,” Verg. A. 2, 482.—
4. Of the senses, windows for intelligence: “ut facile intelligi possit, animum et videre et audire, non eas partes, quae quasi fenestrae sint animi,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 20, 46—
B. Poet., transf., of holes through the tips of the ears: “natus ad Euphraten, molles quod in aure fenestrae Arguerint,” Juv. 1, 104.—
II. Trop., an entrance, admission, opportunity, inlet, occasion (very seldom): “hui quantam fenestram ad nequitiam patefeceris!” Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 72: si hanc fenestram aperueritis, nihil aliud agi sinetis, Tiber. ap. Suet. Tib. 28.
