I.gen. lunai, Lucr. 5, 69), f. contr. for luc-na, from root luc; v. luceo, the moon.
I. Lit.: “dimidiata,” Cato, R. R. 37: “extrema et prima,” Varr. R. R. 1, 37: “solis annuos cursus spatiis menstruis luna consequitur,” Cic. N. D. 2, 19, 50; 2, 40, 103; id. Ac. 2, 39, 123: “cum luna laboret,” is eclipsed, id. Tusc. 1, 38, 92: “lunae defectus,” Liv. 26, 5: “lunae defectio,” Quint. 1, 10, 47: “siderum regina bicornis,” Hor. C. S. 35: “aurea,” Ov. M. 10, 448: “nivea,” id. ib. 14, 367: “minor,” Hor. S. 2, 8, 31: “dimidia,” Plin. 18, 32, 75, § 323: “plena,” id. 11, 30, 36, § 109: “nova,” id. 18, 32, 75, § 322: “intermenstrua,” id. 18, 32, 75, § 322: “lunae senium,” id. 7, 48, 49, § 155: “lunae coitus,” id. 16, 39, 74, § 190: “crescens,” Col. 2, 15: “decrescens,” id. 2, 5: tertia, quarta, quinta, etc., the third, fourth, fifth, etc., day after the new moon, id. 2, 10: “laborans,” an eclipse of the moon, Juv. 6, 442: corniculata, dividua, protumida, plena, App. de Deo Socr.—
II. Transf.
C. The figure of a half-moon, a crescent, lune, Stat. Th. 6, 289. —Esp., the badge worn by senators on their shoes: “felix ... appositam nigrae lunam subtexit alutae,” Juv. 7, 191: “patricia,” Stat. S. 5, 2, 27; cf. Isid. Orig. 19, 34, and lunula. —
D. The semicircular cartilages in the throat, Sid. Carm. 7, 191.—
E. Personified: Lūna , the Moon-goddess: “Volcanus, Luna, Sol, Dies, di quattuor,” Plaut. Bacch. 2, 3, 21; Ov. F. 4, 374; Aus. Ep. 5, 3; 19, 3; cf. Stat. Th. 12, 299 sqq.; “Hyg. Fab. praef.: Aristoteles ... Minervam esse lunam probabilibus argumentis explicat,” Arn. 3, 31. Her temple, built on the Aventine by Servius Tullius, was burned in Nero's reign, Liv. 40, 2, 2; Tac. A. 15, 41.