Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary

I.a being born, birth; hence, transf.

I. Personified, Natio, the goddess of birth: “Natio quoque dea putanda est, quae, quia partus matronarum tueatur, a nascentibus Natio nominata est,” Cic. N. D. 3, 18, 47 (al. Nascio).—

II. A breed, stock, kind, species, race (rare but class.; “syn.: genus, stirps, familia): in hominibus emendis si natione alter est melior, emimus pluris, etc.,” Varr. L. L. 9, § 93 Müll.; “Auct. B. Alex. 7, 3: natio optimatium,” Cic. Sest. 44, 96: “officiosissima candidatorum,” id. Pis. 23, 55.—Also in a contemptuous sense, a race, tribe, set: “salvete, fures maritimi, Famelica hominum natio, quid agitis?” Plaut. Rud. 2, 2, 6: “vestra natio (Epicureorum),” Cic. N. D. 2, 29, 74: “ardelionum,” Phaedr. 2, 5, 1.—Of animals: “praegnantes opere levant: venter enim labore nationem reddit deteriorem,” Varr. R. R. 2, 6, 4; cf. id. L. L. 9, § 92 Müll.; and: in pecoribus quoque bonus proventus feturae bona natio dicitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 167 Müll.—Transf., of things, a sort, kind (post-Aug.): “nationes in apium naturā diximus,” Plin. 22, 24, 50, § 109: “cera natione Pontica,” id. 21, 14, 49, § 83; cf. id. 12, 25, 55, § 125.—

B. In a more restricted sense, a race of people, nation, people (used commonly in a more limited sense than gens, and sometimes as identical with it; cf.: gens, populus; usually applied by Cicero to distant and barbarous people): nam itast haec hominum natio; “in Epidamniis Voluptarii, etc.,” Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 34: “omnes nationes servitutem ferre possunt: nostra civitas non potest,” Cic. Phil. 10, 10, 20; cf.: “exteris nationibus ac gentibus ostendere, etc.,” id. Font. 11, 25: “ne nationes quidem et gentes,” id. N. D. 3, 39, 93; cf.“, in the reverse order: omnes exterae gentes ac nationes,” id. Imp. Pomp. 11, 31: “per omnes gentes nationesque,” Quint. 11, 3, 87: “eruditissima Graecorum natio,” Cic. de Or. 2, 4, 18: “Judaei et Syri, nationes natae servituti,” id. Prov. Cons. 5, 10: “immanes ac barbarae nationes,” id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 9, § 27: “quod eas quoque nationes adire volebat,” Caes. B. G. 3, 7: “Suevi majorem Germaniae partem obtinent, propriis adhuc nationibus nominibusque discreti,” Tac. G. 38: “Gannascus, natione Canninefas,” id. A. 11, 18: “patre Camissare, natione Care, matre Scythissā natus,” Nep. Dat. 1, 1: “NATIONE CILIX,” Inscr. Fabr. p. 495, n. 189; so in connection with names of cities: NATIONE ARRETIO, Inscr. Don. cl. 6, n. 181.—

2. Ad Nationes, the name of a portico in Rome, built by Augustus, where the images of all known nations were set up: “ante aditum porticūs Ad Nationes,” Plin. 36, 5, 4, § 39; cf. Serv. Verg. A. 8, 721.—

3. In eccl. Lat., like gens, and the Gr. ἔθνος, opp. to Christians, the heathen: “per deos nationum,” Tert. de Idol. 22.