I.a subject for consideration or explanation, a theme, matter, subject, contents (not ante-Aug.; in Cic. only written as Greek).
II. Transf.
A. The title of an epigram, because it indicates the subject: “lemmata si quaeris, cur sint ascripta, docebo: Ut si malueris lemmata sola legas,” Mart. 14, 2, 1; Aus. Parent. praef.—
B. The epigram itself: “si mihi ex hoc ipso lemmate secundus versus occurrerit,” Plin. Ep. 4, 27, 3: “consumpta est uno si lemmate pagina, transis,” Mart. 10, 59, 1.—
D. The assumption or lemma of a syllogism: “est vitium insidiosum et sub falsa lemmatis specie latens,” Gell. 9, 16, 7; v. sumptio.
