I.neutr. collat. form of the plur. pŭtĕa , ōrum, Varr. ap. Non. 217, 4) [root pu-, to cleanse; whence also purus, putus, purgo], a well: “puteum fodere,” Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 32: “ex puteis jugibus aquam calidam trahi,” Cic. N. D. 2, 9, 25; id. Div. 1, 50, 112: “virgines se in puteos abjecisse,” id. Prov. Cons. 3, 6; Plin. 9, 25, 41, § 80; 37, 9, 43, § 127; Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 25; 5, 6, 25: “putei perennes,” Hor. Ep. 1, 15, 15: “puteum vitare patentem,” id. ib. 2, 2, 135 et saep. —Of a cistern, Auct. B. Alex. 5 fin.—Prov.: “in puteum conicere,” to throw away, Petr. 42.—
II. Transf., a pit, Verg. G. 2, 231; “for storing grain in,” Varr. R. R. 1, 57, 2; “in mines,” a pit, shaft, Plin. 33, 4, 21, § 68; 33, 6, 31, § 95; an air-shaft, air-hole, Vitr. 8, 6; a dungeon for slaves, Plaut. Aul. 2, 5, 21; 2, 7, 3; Col. 1, 6.
