I.a woman, a female, whether married or not.
I. Lit.
A. In gen., Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 36: “mulieres omnes propter infirmitatem consilii, majores in tutorum potestate esse voluerunt,” Cic. Mur. 12, 27; “of a virgin,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 25, § 64: “mulieres omnes dicuntur, quaecumque sexūs feminini sunt,” Dig. 34, 2, 26: “nil non permittit mulier sibi,” Juv. 6, 457.—
B. In partic., a wife, opp. to a maid: “ecqua virgo sit aut mulier digna, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 24, § 63: “Cicero objurgantibus, quod sexagenarius Publiliam virginem duxisset, "cras mulier erit" inquit,” Quint. 6, 3, 75: “si virgo fuit primo, postea mulier,” Lact. 1, 17, 8 al.: “pudica mulier,” Hor. Epod. 2, 39; Suet. Vit. 2; Inscr Orell. 4661.—
II. Transf., as a term of reproach, a woman, i. e. a coward, poltroon: “non me arbitratur militem, sed mulierem,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 8, 4.
