I. Lit., the muscle which separates the heart and lungs from the abdomen, the midriff, diaphragm: exta homini ab inferiore viscerum parte separantur membrana, quae praecordia appellant, quia cordi praetenditur, quod Graeci appellaverunt φρένας, Plin. 11, 37, 77, § 197: “(Plato) cupiditatem subter praecordia locavit,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 10, 20: “unius praecordia pressit senis,” i. e. stopped his breath, Juv. 6, 621.—
II. Transf.
A. The entrails, the stomach (syn.: “viscera, exta, ilia): praecordia vocamus uno nomine exta in homine,” Plin. 30, 5, 14, § 42; Cels. 4, 1: “ipse anulus in praecordiis piscis inventus est,” Cic. Fin. 5, 30, 92: totis praecordiis stertens, M. Cael. ap. Quint. 4, 2, 123; Plin. 26, 7, 19, § 35: “quid veneni saevit in praecordiis,” Hor. Epod. 3, 5: “mulso proluere,” id. S. 2, 4, 26.—
B. The breast, the heart (mostly poet.): “spiritu remanente in praecordiis,” Liv. 42, 16: “frigidus coit in praecordia sanguis,” Verg. A. 10, 452; Ov. M. 12, 140.—As the seat of the feelings and passions: “quondam etiam victis redit in praecordia virtus,” Verg. A. 2, 367: “meis inaestuat praecordiis Libera bilis,” Hor. Epod. 11, 15: “verax aperit praecordia Liber,” id. S. 1, 4, 89: “inquieta,” id. Epod. 5, 95: “flagrantia,” Juv. 13, 102; cf.: “tacita sudant praecordia culpa,” id. 1, 167: “mutare praecordia, i. e. sententiam,” Prop. 2, 3, 13 (2, 4, 31): “in praecordiis meis de mane vigilabo ad te,” Vulg. Isa. 26, 9.—Hence, even, praecordia mentis, the seat of the mind, for the mind, Ov. M. 11, 149.—*
C. The body, bodies in gen.: “in terrā ponunt praecordia,” Ov. M. 7, 559.
