I.an enticement, in a good or bad sense, an inducement, attraction, charm, allurement, bait, lure.
I. Lit. (class.; in sing. and plur.; a favorite word of Cic.; cf.: invitatio, invitamentum).
(α).
With gen. (subj. or obj.): “quae tanta in ullo homine juventutis illecebra fuit, quanta in illo?” Cic. Cat. 2, 4, 8: “maxima est illecebra peccandi impunitatis spes,” id. Mil. 16, 43: “voluptas est illecebra turpitudinis,” id. Leg. 1, 11, 31: “fallax illecebra admirationum,” Gell. 10, 12, 4: “quaestionis,” id. 12, 5, 5.—In plur.: “habet etiam amoenitas ipsa vel sumptuosas vel desidiosas illecebras multas cupiditatum,” Cic. Rep. 2, 4: “voluptatis,” id. de Sen. 12, 40; id. Fam. 15, 16, 3: “vitiorum (with lenocinia cupiditatum),” id. Sest. 66, 138: “corruptelarum,” id. Cat. 1, 6, 13.—
(β).
Absol.: “munditia illecebra animo est amantūm,” Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 4: ad quam illecebiam cum commoveretur nemo, etc., Liv. 10, 4.—In plur.: “suis te oportet illecebris ipsa virtus trahat ad verum decus,” Cic. Rep. 6, 23; 6, 1: “jocum tentavit, eo quod Illecebris erat et grata novitate morandus Spectator,” Hor. A. P. 223.—
II. Transf., concr.
A. Of an alluring, seductive person, an enticer, a decoy-bird, Plaut. As. 1, 2, 25; id. Truc. 1, 2, 82; 4, 2, 46.—
B. A plant, called also andrachne agria, Plin. 25, 13, 103, § 162; 26, 12, 79, § 128.
