I.a people of Eastern Asia (the mod. Chinese), celebrated for their silken fabrics, Mel. 1, 2, 3; 3, 7, 1; Plin. 6, 17, 20, § 54; Amm. 23, 6, 67 sq.; Verg. G. 2, 121; Hor. C. 3, 29, 27; 4, 15, 23; Ov. Am. 1, 14, 6; Luc. 1, 19; Juv. 6, 403 al.—Placed by Lucan at the sources of the Nile, and made neighbors of the Ethiopians, Luc. 10, 292.—Gen. Serum, Sen. Ep. 90, 13.— Acc. Seras, Hor. C. 1, 12, 56; Plin. H. N. 12, prooem. § 2.—Sing. Ser, Aus. Idyll. Monos. Hist. 24; Sen. Herc. Oet. 668.—Hence, Sērĭcus , a, um, adj.
1. Lit., of or belonging to the Seres, Seric: “regio,” Amm. 23, 6: “Oceanus,” Plin. 6, 13, 15, § 37: “hostis (Müll. Neuricus),” Prop. 4 (5), 3, 8. cf. “sagittae,” Hor. C. 1, 29, 9.—
2. Transf., Seric, i. e. silken: “vestis,” Plin. 21, 3, 8, § 11; Tac. A. 2, 33: “toga,” Quint. 12, 10, 47: “pallium,” Vulg. Esth. 8, 15: “pulvilli,” Hor. Epod. 8, 15: “tentoria,” Flor. 2, 8, 9: “vexilla,” id. 3, 11, 8: “carpenta,” with silken curtains, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 23. “frena,” Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 350.—As subst.:
a. sērĭca , ōrum, n., Seric garments, silks, Prop. 1, 14, 22; Mart. 9, 38, 3; 11, 27, 11; Claud. in Eutr. 2.—
b. sērĭ-cum , i, n., Seric stuff, silk, Amm. 23, 6, 67; Sol. 50; cf. Isid. Orig. 19, 17, 6; 19, 27, 5; Vulg. Apoc. 18, 12.
