I. Lit., a dream, Cic. Div. 1, 20, 39; 2, 58, 119; Plin. 10, 75, 98, § 211; Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 3; Lact. Opif. Dei, 18: rex Priamus somnio perculsus, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 21, 42 (Trag. v. 59 Vahl.): “dum huic conicio somnium,” interpret, Plaut. Curc. 2, 2, 3; cf. id. Rud. 3, 1, 19: “interpretes somniorum,” Cic. Div. 1, 58, 132: “jucundissima somnia,” id. Fin. 5, 20, 55: “per somnia loquentes,” talking in their sleep, Lucr. 5, 1158; cf.: “quae somnio visa fuerant,” Liv. 8, 6, 11 Weissenb.—
II. Transf.
A. For any thing idle, silly, or without foundation (cf. somnio, II.), a dream, an idle whim or fancy, stuff, nonsense: “tu, quantus quantus, nihil nisi sapientia es: Ille somnium,” Ter. Ad. 3, 3, 41: “de argento, somnium,” id. ib. 2, 1, 50; id. Phorm. 5, 6, 34.—Plur.: “fabulae! ... logi! ... somnia!” Ter. Phorm. 3, 2, 9: “et vigilans stertis nec somnia cernere cessas,” visions, Lucr. 3, 1048; cf. id. 1, 105: “spes inanes et velut somnia quaedam vigilantium,” Quint. 6, 2, 30: exposui fere non philosophorum judicia, sed delirantium somnia, Cic. N. D. 1, 16, 42: “Chrysippus Stoicorum somniorum vaferrimus interpres,” id. ib. 1, 15, 39: “leviter curare videtur, Quo promissa cadant et somnia Pythagorea,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 52.—