I.a plate, platter, charger, dish (class.; cf.: patina, patella, magis, scutula).
I. In gen.: “in lancibus,” Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 45: “in filicatis lancibus,” Cic. Att. 6, 1, 13: “pomum de caelata sumere lance,” Ov. P. 3, 5, 20: “cumulantque oneratis lancibus aras,” Verg. A. 8, 284: “inter lances mensasque nitentes,” Hor. S. 2, 2, 4: “rotundae lances,” id. ib. 2, 4, 41: “qui furtum quaerere velit, nudus quaerat, linteo cinctus, lancem habens, etc.,” Gai. Inst. 3, 192 sqq.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 116 Müll.; Gell. 11, 18, 9; 16, 10, 8: “sic implet leves scutulas, cavasque lances,” Mart. 11, 32, 18; Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 86: “squilla distendat pectore lancem,” Juv. 5, 80.—
II. In partic., the scale of a balance (cf.: “libra, statera, trutina): necesse est lancem in libra ponderibus impositis deprimi,” Cic. Ac. 2, 12, 38: “Critolaus cum in alteram lancem animi bona imponat, in alteram corporis et externa, etc.,” id. Tusc. 5, 17, 51; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 91; cf.: “Juppiter ipse duas aequato examine lances Sustinet,” Verg. A. 12, 725: “cum in altera lance Claudius et Nero starent, in altera, etc.,” Suet. Vesp. 25.—
B. Trop.: vitam aequa lance pensitare, to weigh or consider impartially, Plin. 7, 7, 5, § 44: “aequa lance examinare,” Ambros. Ep. 41, 22: “paripendere lance cunctos,” Arn. 6, 2: “aequa lance servari,” i. e. in like manner, Dig. 42, 1, 20.
