I.gen. fem. nigraï, Lucr. 4, 537; comp. nigrior, Ov. H. 18, 7), adj., black, sable, dark, dusky (cf.: ater, pullus).
I. Lit.: “quae alba sint, quae nigra, dicere,” Cic. Div. 2, 3, 9: “quamvis ille niger, quamvis tu candidus esses,” Verg. E. 2, 16: “hederae nigrae,” id. G. 2, 258: “silvae (= umbrosae),” Hor. C. 1, 21, 7: “frons,” id. ib. 4, 4, 58: “collis,” id. ib. 4, 12, 11: “lucus,” Ov. F. 3, 295 (for which atrum nemus, Verg. A. 1, 165): “caelum pice nigrius,” Ov. H. 18, 7: “nigerrimus Auster,” i. e. causing darkness, Verg. G. 3, 278; so, “venti,” Hor. C. 1, 5, 7: “Eurus,” id. Epod. 10, 5: “nigros efferre maritos,” i. e. killed by poison, Juv. 1, 71; cf.: “pocula nigra,” poisoned, Prop. 2, 20, 68 (3, 23, 10).—Prov.: facere candida de nigris; “nigra in candida vertere,” to turn black into white, Juv. 3, 29; cf. Ov. M. 11, 315.—Subst.: nĭgrum , i, n., a black spot, Ov. A. A. 1, 291.—
II. Trop.
A. Of or pertaining to death: “nigrorumque memor, dum licet, ignium (= lugubris rogi),” of the funeral pile, Hor. C. 4, 12, 26: “hora,” Tib. 3, 5, 5: “dies,” the day of death, Prop. 2 (3), 19, 19. “Juppiter niger,” i. e. Pluto, Sen. Herc. Oet. 1705.—
C. Unlucky, ill-omened: huncine solem Tam nigrum surrexe mihi? Hor. S. 1, 9, 72; Prop. 2, 21, 38 (3, 25, 4): lapis, the spot in the Comitium where Romulus or one of his adherents was slain, Paul. ex Fest. p. 177 Müll.—