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septentrĭōnes (septemptrĭōnes ), um (sing. and tmesis,
I.v. infra), m. septemtrio; prop. the seven plough-oxen; hence, as a constellation,
I. Lit., the seven stars near the north pole (called also the Wain, and the Great or Little Bear): neque se septentriones quoquam in caelo commovent, Plant. Am. 1, 1, 117; Cic. Ac. 2, 20, 66; cf. “in tmesi: quas nostri septem soliti vocitare Triones,” id. Arat. in N. D. 2, 41, 105; so, “gurgite caeruleo septem prohibete triones,” Ov. M. 2, 528.—Sing.: “septentrio non cernitur,” Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 83; so, “major,” the Great Bear, Vitr. 6, 11: “minor,” the Little Bear, Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 111; Vitr. 1. 1.—
II. Transf.
A. The northern regions, the north (as a quarter of the heavens).
(α). Plur.: “satis notum est, limites regionesque esse caeli quattuor: exortum, occasum, meridiem, septentriones,” Gell. 2, 22, 3 sq.: “inflectens sol cursum tum ad septentriones, tum ad meridiem, aestates et hiemes efficit,” Cic. N. D. 2, 19, 49; Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 4; Caes. B. G. 1, 1; 1, 16; 4, 20; 5, 13; 7, 83; Mel. 2, 6, 3; 3, 1, 9; 3, 2, 1.—
(β). Sing.: “latus oriens spectat: septentrio a Macedoniā obicitur,” Liv. 32, 13; Mel. 1, 1, 1; 2, 6, 3; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16; Tac. A. 2, 23; 13, 53; id. H. 5, 6 al.—In tmesi: “Hyperboreo septem subjecta trioni Gens,” Verg. G. 3, 381; Ov. M. 1, 64.—
B. The north wind.
(α). Plur.: “ex eā die fuere septentriones venti,” Cic. Att. 9, 6, 3.—
(β). Sing.: “acer septentrio ortus inclinatum stagnum eodem, quo aestus, ferebat,” Liv. 26, 45: “a septentrionali latere summus est aquilo, medius septentrio, imus thrascias,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 6.—
C. Sing., northern countries, the north (as territory; “very rare): totum paene Orientem ac Septentrionem ruinā suā involvit,” Flor. 3, 5, 21.
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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hide References (13 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (13):
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 9.6.3
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 1.1
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 1.64
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 2.528
    • Vergil, Georgics, 3.381
    • Vitruvius, On Architecture, 1
    • Tacitus, Annales, 2.23
    • Tacitus, Historiae, 5.6
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 26, 45
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 32, 13
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.19
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.43
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 2.22.3
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