I.nom. sing.; acc. not found, v. Neue, Formenl. 1, p. 489) [obicio, that which is cast or placed before; hence], a bolt, bar; a barrier, wall (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic. or Cæs.).
I. Lit.: obices pessuli, serae, Paul. ex Fest. p. 187 Müll.: “fultosque emuniit obice postes,” Verg. A. 8, 227; cf. Ov. M. 14, 780: “ferrati portarum obices,” Tac. H. 3, 30: “obices portarum subversi,” id. A. 13, 39; Sil. 4, 24: “diffractis portarum obicibus,” Amm. 24, 5: infirmā scamellorum obice fultae fores, App. ap. Prisc. p. 615 P.: “saxi,” Verg. G. 4, 422: “ecce maris magnā claudit nos obice pontus,” id. A. 10, 377: quā vi maria alta tumescant Obicibus ruptis, their barriers, i. e. their rocky shores, id. G. 2, 480; Gell. 17, 11 fin.—
II. Transf., a hinderance, impediment, obstacle: “apud hanc obicem,” Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 21: “per obices viarum,” Liv. 9, 3, 1; 2, 58; 6, 33, 11: nullae obices, nulli contumeliarum gradus, obstacles to admission, Plin. Pan. 47, 5; Inscr. Orell. 708.
