I. Prop.
A. In gen., a fence, en closure, wall, etc.; plur. absol.: “nunc de saeptis, quae tutandi causā fundi, aut partis fiant, dicam,” Varr. R. R. 1, 14, 1; cf. “the context: quibus enim saeptis tam immanes beluas continebimus?” Cic. Phil. 13, 3, 5: “saxea saepta,” id. ib. 4, 701: “saepta candentia,” Mart. Cap. 2, § 108: “nisi saeptis revolsis,” Cic. Phil. 5, 4, 9.—With gen.: “transit fulmen caeli per saepta domorum,” Lucr. 1, 490; cf. id. 6, 228; 6, 860.—Sing.: “AEDICVLAM, ARAM, SAEPTVM, CLVSVM, VETVSTATE DIRVTA RESTITVIT,” Inscr. Orell. 1515.—
B. Esp.: Saeptum lini, a hunter's net or toils, Nemes. Cyneg. 308.—
II. Meton.
A. In gen., any enclosed place, an enclosure: “ut intra saepta (sc. villae) habeat aquam,” Varr. R. R. 1, 11, 2.—
2. Esp.
a. A fold for cattle: “quamvis multa meis exiret victima saeptis,” Verg. E. 1, 34: “saepta repetit pecus,” Col. 6, 23, 3.—
b. A fish-pond or preserve: “animadvertimus intra saepta pelagios greges inertis mugilis,” Col. 8, 17, 8.—
c. Plur., a large enclosed place in the Campus Martius, where the people assembled to vote, and where were many handsome shops: “cum ille in saepta irruisset,” Cic. Mil. 15, 41: “est (sc. dies) quoque, quo populum jus est includere saeptis,” Ov. F. 1, 53; cf. Mart. 9, 60, 1. —
d. Saeptum venationis, a park, warren, preserve, enclosed hunting-ground, Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 2; cf. the context.—
B. Any thing used for enclosing, etc.; hence,
1. A palisade, stake, pale: “inermem tribunum adoriantur fragmentis saeptorum et fustibus,” Cic. Sest. 37, 79.—
2. A sluice, flood-gate, Dig. 43, 21, 1, § 4.—
3. Medic. t. t., the diaphragm, midriff: “jecur ... ab ipso saepto orsum,” Cels. 4, 1; cf. id. 5, 26, 15; 7, 4, 2; “called also transversum saeptum,” id. 4, 1.