I.num. distrib. as piur. tantum: “trinis catenis vinctus,” Caes. B. G. 1, 53) [Sanscr. kat, to fall away; cf. catax].
I. A wooden bracket, brace, etc., for holding two beams together, Cato, R. R. 18, 9; Vitr. 7, 3; Pall. 1, 3, 1.—
II. A chain,
A. Used as a fetter, shackle, etc.; usu. in plur. (syn. vincula): “catenis vincire aliquem,” Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 3; Ov. M. 15, 601 al.: “catenas indere alicui,” Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 3: “in catenas conicere aliquem,” Caes. B. G. 1, 47; Liv. 29, 21, 2: “catenas inicere alicui,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 41, § 106: “in catenis aliquem Romam mittere,” Liv. 29, 21, 12: “in catenis aliquem per urbem ducere,” id. 45, 40, 6: “eximere se ex catenis,” Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 8: “rumpere catenas,” Hor. S. 2, 7, 71: “catenas alicui exsolvere,” Tac. H. 3, 31 al.—In sing., Liv. 24, 34, 10; Cat. 64, 297; Verg. A. 6, 558; Hor. S. 1, 5, 65; Curt. 4, 3, 22; 7, 5, 36; Tac. A. 4, 28; 6, 14; Suet. Aug. 94; Sen. Ep. 9, 8; Plin. 34, 15, 43, § 150.—
3. Trop., a constraint, fetter, barrier, bond: “taetra belua, constricta legum sacratarum catenis,” Cic. Sest. 7, 16: “compesce animum frenis, catenā,” Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 63: “validā teneamur catenā,” Tib. 4, 5, 15; 4, 1, 117: “splendidiore nunc eos catenā sed multo graviore vinctos esse, quam cum, etc.,” Liv. 35, 38, 10: “qui ad superiora progressus est.. laxam catenam trahit nondum liber,” Sen. Vit. Beat. 16, 3; id. Tranq. 10, 3.—
B. A chain of gold or silver worn by women as an ornament, Plin. 33, 3, 12, § 40; Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 84.—
C. A series of things connected together, a chain, series, Lucr. 6, 910 (but id. 2, 630, is a false reading for quod armis; v. Lachm.).—
