I.gen. taedaï, Lucr. 6, 897), f. etym. dub.; cf. taedet, a resinous species of pine-tree, the pitch-pine tree (syn. fax): Pinus combra, Linn.
I. Lit., Plin. 16, 10, 19, § 44; 16, 11, 21, § 52; 37, 3, 11, § 43; “35, 6, 25, § 41: ceu flamma per taedas equitavit,” Hor. C. 4, 4, 43. —
II. Transf.
A. Resinous fir or pine wood, pitch-pine: “cupas taedā ac pice refertas incendunt,” Caes. B. C. 2, 11; 3, 101: “pyrā erectā taedis atque ilice sectā,” Verg. A. 4, 505: “schedias taedā comburere,” Vitr. 7, 10.—
2. A pitchpine torch, a torch: circumstant cum ardentibus taedis, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, 89 (Trag. v. 51 Vahl.); cf.: “taedae ardentes Furiarum,” Cic. Pis. 20, 46; id. Rosc. Am. 24, 67: “Ceres dicitur inflammasse taedas eis ignibus, etc.,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; cf. Ov. F. 4, 494: “accensis currere taedis,” Prop. 2, 32, 9: “taedas Hymenaeus Amorque Praecutiunt,” Ov. M. 4, 758; so of a nuptial torch, id. H. 4, 121; Verg. A. 4, 18 al.; hence, poet., a wedding, marriage, id. ib. 4, 339; 7, 388; 9, 76; Ov. M. 9, 721; 9, 768; 4, 326; 14, 677; “15, 826: copulari taedis,” Sen. Herc. Fur. 493: “jungere taedas,” Stat. S. 3, 4, 53: “teque mihi taeda pudica dedit,” Ov. H. 6, 134: “sacra conubia fallere taedae,” Mart. 6, 2, 1; and for love, in gen., Prop. 1, 8, 21: taedaeque ad funera versae, torches reversed, in sign of mourning, Sil. 2, 184; 13, 547.—As an instrument of torture: “verbera, carnifices, robur, pix, lamina, taedae,” Lucr. 3, 1017; Juv. 1, 155. —
3. A pine board, a sawn plank: “dolato confisus ligno, digitis a morte remotus Quattuor, aut septem, si sit latissima taeda,” Juv. 12, 59. — *
B. A small piece of pork or fat, used for religious purposes, Arn. 7, 230.
