I. A quarrel, brawl, dispute, contest, strife, contention (class.; esp. freq. after the Aug. period; “syn.: contentio, altercatio, disceptatio, jurgium): ecce nova turba atque rixa,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 66, § 148: “rixa ac prope proelium fuit,” Liv. 2, 18: “rixa sedata est,” id. 2, 29: “in rixā esse,” id. 40, 14: “in rixam ire,” Quint. 6, 4, 13: “sive geris jocos Seu rixam et insanos amores,” Hor. C. 3, 21, 3: “rixa super mero Debellata,” id. ib. 1, 18, 8: “Academiae nostrae cum Zenone magna rixa est,” Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 1: “pietatis rixa,” Mart. 1, 37, 3: “jurgia primum, mox rixa,” Tac. H. 1, 64.—Plur.: “corrupta jurgiis aut rixis disciplina,” Tac. H. 2, 27 fin.: “crebrae,” id. G. 22: “sanguineae,” Hor. C. 1, 27, 4: “immodicae,” id. ib. 1, 13, 10.—Prov.: a lasso rixam quaeri, v. lassus.—
II. In gen., a battle, contest (very rare): “major cum Oceano quam cum ipsis navibus rixa,” Flor. 3, 10, 5. — “Of beasts: deque tuo fiet ... Insatiabilibus corpore rixa lupis,” Ov. Ib. 170; Col. 9, 15, 4; Plin. 11, 17, 18, § 58.
