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carnĭfĭcīna (carnŭf- ), ae. f. carnifex.
I. The office of executioner or hangman; capital punishment, execution: “carnificinam facere = carnificem esse,” Plaut. Capt. 1, 2, 23; cf. id. Cist. 2, 1, 1: “locus carnificinae,” Suet. Tib. 62.—Hence,
II. Per meton., the rack, torture, torment: dolores atque carnificinas facere, Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17; and ap. Non. p. 187, 30; so, “carnificinam subire,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 27, 78: “in ergastulum et carnificinam duci,” Liv. 2, 23, 6.—
B. Trop.: “cum omnis perturbatio miseria est, tum carnificina est aegritudo,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 13, 27; cf. id. Sest. 65, 135 (= crudelitas).
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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