I.a wet-nurse, nurse.
I. Lit.: “omnia minima mansa, ut nutrices infantibus pueris, in os inserant,” Cic. de Or. 2, 39, 162: “cum lacte nutricis errorem suxisse,” id. Tusc. 3, 1, 2: “sidera nutricem nutricis fertile cornu Fecit,” Ov. F. 5, 127; Verg. A. 4, 632; 5, 645: “Jubae tellus leonum Arida nutrix,” Hor. C. 1, 22, 15: “gallina nutrix,” a hen that has chickens, Col. 8, 11, 13: “nutricis tolerare labores,” Juv. 6, 593: “mater nutrix,” a mother that suckles her own infant, Gell. 12, 1, 5; Inscr. Fabr. p. 188, n. 428: “est enim illa (oratio) quasi nutrix ejus oratoris, quem informare volumus,” Cic. Or. 11, 37: “nutricis pallium (prov. of any thing soiled, dirty),” Plaut. Bacch. 3, 3, 30.—
B. Transf.
1. She who nourishes or maintains a thing: “virgines perpetui nutrices et conservatrices ignis,” Arn. 4, 151. —
2. Nutrices, the breasts, Cat. 64, 18.—
3. A piece of ground in which shoots of trees are planted in order to be set out again, a nursery garden, Plin. 17, 10, 12, § 66.—
4. The land that supports a family, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 111.—
