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pĭācŭlum (sync. collat. form pĭā-clum , Prud. στεφ. 14, 219), i, n. pio,
I.a means of appeasing a deity; hence,
I. Lit.
A. A sin-offering, propitiatory sacrifiee: porco piaculo facito, Cato, R. R. 139; 140: “porcc femina piaculum pati,” to bring, Cic. Leg. 2, 22, 57: “piaculum hostia caedi,” Liv. 8, 10: “te piacula nulla resolvent,” Hor. C. 1, 28, 34: “piacula manibus infert,” Ov. M. 6, 569: “falsi mundi,” Liv. 1, 26: sed quo te, M. Tulli, piaculo taceam, i. e. how can I be justified in, etc., Plin. 7, 31, 31, § 116; Macr. S. 3, 10, 7.—
2. Concr., an animal offered up in sacrifice, a victim: duc nigras pecudes; “ea prima piacula sunto,” Verg. A. 6, 153: “non sperat tragicae furtiva piacula cervae,” i. e. substitution, Juv. 12, 120.—Transf.,
(α). Of persons offered as an expiation, atonement: “(Hannibalem) ad piaculum rupti foederis,” Liv. 21, 10, 12: “ut luendis periculis publicis piacula simus,” id. 10, 28, 13.—
(β). In gen., a remedy, Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 36.—
B. Punishment: “dea a violatoribus (sui templi) gravia piacula exegit,” Liv. 29, 18; Just. 8, 2, 6; Val. Max. 1, 1, 14; Sil. 13, 702.—
II. Transf., that which requires expiation.
A. A wicked action, sin, crime; guilt: eo die verberari piaculum est, Fab. Pict. ap. Gell. 10, 15, 10: “palam mutire plebeio piaculum est, Enn. ap. Fest. s. v. mutire, p. 145 Müll. (Trag. v. 376 Vahl.): piaculum est misereri nos hominum rem male gerentum,” Plaut. Truc. 2, 1, 13: “sine piaculo rerum praetermissarum,” Liv. 39, 47: “piaculum committere,” id. 5, 52; Paul. Sent. 1, 21, 4: “commissa piacula,” Verg. A. 6, 569: “solutus piaculo,” Tac. A. 1, 30: “nec sine piaculo quodam sanctissimas necessitudines scindi,” Plin. Pan. 37: “ne terra impleatur piaculo,” Vulg. Lev. 19, 29.—
B. An unhappy event, a misfortune, Plin. 25, 8, 46, § 84.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (17 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (17):
    • Old Testament, Leviticus, 19.29
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 6.569
    • Plautus, Truculentus, 2.1
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.153
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.569
    • Tacitus, Annales, 1.30
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 25.84
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 8, 10
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 39, 47
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 5, 52
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 10, 28.13
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 21, 10
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 1, 26
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 29, 18
    • Cicero, De Legibus, 2.22
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 10.15.10
    • Valerius Maximus, Facta et Dicta Memorabilia, 1.1.14
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