I.“securem,” Liv. 3, 36, 4; 8, 7, 20; 9, 16, 17; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 47, § 123; Varr. ap. Non. p. 79; Val. Max. 1, 3, ext. 3; 3, 2, ext. 1; Tert. adv. Marc. 1, 29; Lact. Mort. Pers. 31, 2; Amm. 30, 8, 5; cf. Prisc. 758; abl. securi, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 25; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 7; 2, 1, 5, § 12; 2, 4, 64, § 144; 2, 5, 50, § 133; Verg. A. 6, 824; 7, 510; Cat. 17, 19; Ov. H. 16, 105; Liv. 2, 5, 8 et saep.: “secure,” App. M. 8, p. 216, 1; Tert. Pud. 16), f. seco, an axe or hatchet with a broad edge (cf. bipennis).
I. In gen., as a domestic utensil, Cato, R. R. 10, 3; Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 17; id. Bacch. 5, 1, 31: “rustica,” Cat. 19, 3 al.—For felling trees, Cat. 17, 19; Verg. A. 6, 180; Ov. F. 4, 649; id. M. 9, 374; Hor. S. 1, 7, 27; Plin. 16, 39, 74, § 188.—For hewing stones in the quarries, Stat. S. 2, 2, 87. —For fighting, a battle-axe, Verg. A. 11, 656; 11, 696; 12, 306; 7, 184; 7, 627; Hor. C. 4, 4, 20 al.: “anceps,” a two-edged axe, Ov. M. 8, 397 (just before, bipennifer).—For slaying animals for sacrifice, Hor. C. 3, 23, 12; Verg. A. 2, 224; Ov. Tr. 4, 2, 5; id. M. 12, 249.—As the cutting edge of a vine-dresser's bill, Col. 4, 25, 4 et saep.—
II. In partic.
A. Lit., an executioner's axe, for beheading criminals (borne by the lictors in the fasces; “v. fascis): missi lictores ad sumendum supplicium nudatos virgis caedunt securique feriunt,” i. e. behead them, Liv. 2. 5; so, “securi ferire,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 30, § 75; Hirt. B. G. 8, 38 fin.: “percutere,” Cic. Pis. 34, 84; Sen. Ira, 2, 5, 5; Flor. 1, 9, 5: “strictae in principum colla secures,” id. 2, 5, 4: “necare,” Liv. 10, 9: “securibus cervices subicere,” Cic. Pis. 34, 83 (cf. infra, B.); Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 9, § 22: “Publicola statim secures de fascibus demi jussit,” id. Rep. 2, 31, 55; cf. Lucr. 3, 996; 5, 1234: “nec sumit aut ponit secures Arbitrio popularis aurae,” Hor. C. 3, 2, 20: “saevumque securi Aspice Torquatum (as having caused his own son to be executed),” Verg. A. 6, 824.—Comically, in a double sense, acc. to I.: “te, cum securi, caudicali praeficio provinciae,” Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 25: “securis Tenedia,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 11, 2; Front. ad M. Caes. 1, 9 init.; v. Tenedos.—
B. Trop.
1. A blow, death-blow, etc.: “graviorem rei publicae infligere securim,” to give a death-blow, Cic. Planc. 29, 70; cf.: “quam te securim putas injecisse petitioni tuae, cum? etc. (just before: plaga est injecta petitioni tuae),” id. Mur. 24, 48.—
2. With reference to the axe in the fasces, authority, dominion, sovereignty.
(α).
Usu. in plur.: Gallia securibus subjecta, perpetuā premitur servitute, i. e. to Roman supremacy, * Caes. B. G. 7, 77 fin.; cf.: “vacui a securibus et tributis,” Tac. A. 12, 34: “consulis inperium hic primus saevasque secures Accipiet,” Verg. A. 6, 819: Medus Albanas timet secures, i. e. the Roman authority or dominion, Hor. C. S. 54: “ostendam multa securibus recidenda,” Sen. Ep. 88, 38.—