I.an abyss, gulf, whirlpool, depth, chasm.
I. Lit., of watery depths: “summersus equus voraginibus,” Cic. Div. 1, 33, 73: “vastāque voragine gurges Aestuat,” Verg. A. 6, 296; Cat. 17, 26; Curt. 8, 14, 8: “explicet se Cotta, si potest, ex hac voragine,” Lact. 2, 8, 55.—Of a gulf or chasm in the earth, Liv. 7, 6, 1; Curt. 8, 14, 2.— Poet., of a devouring maw or stomach: “ventris,” Ov. M. 8, 843.—
II. Transf.: “vos geminae voragines scopulique rei publicae,” i. e. gulfs, Cic. Pis. 18, 41: “gurges et vorago patrimonii,” devourer, squanderer, spendthrift, id. Sest. 52, 111: “vorago aut gurges vitiorum,” abyss, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 9, § 23: “avaritia, manifestae praedae avidissima vorago,” abyss, gulf, Val. Max. 9, 4 init.