I.that which holds back or binds; a holdfast, band, tether, halter, halser, rope, cable (only in plur.; but the sing. occurs as v. l. Amm. 30, 4, 4).
I. Lit., Cato, R. R. 63; 135, 5; Liv. 21, 28; Col. 4, 13, 1; 6, 2, 4; Vitr. 10, 5; Verg. G. 1, 265; 513; id. A. 4, 580; Hor. S. 1, 5, 18; Ov. M. 8, 102; 11, 712; 14, 547; Stat. S. 3, 2, 32.—
II. Trop., a bond, chain, tie: “vita abrupit,” Plin. Ep. 1, 12, 8: “desiderii,” App. M. 11, p. 269, 28 (p. 806 Oud.): “blanda morarum,” Aus. Ep. 8, 1: “leges, fundamenta libertatis et retinacula sempiterna,” Amm. 14, 6, 5: “retinaculis temporis praestituti frenari,” id. 30, 4, 4.