Lewis & Short

anguis (dissyl.), is (rare form an-guen, like sanguen for sanguis, Jul. Val. Rer. Gest. Alex. M. 1, 29 Mai.
Abl. angue; but angui, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, or Trag. v. 51 Vahl.; Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 30; Ov. M. 4, 483 MS.; cf. Prisc. p. 766 P.; in Cic. Div. 2, 31, 66, suspected by Schneid. Gram. II. 227, on account of angue just before; angue also, Enn. ap. Acron. ad Hor. C. 3, 11, 18, or Trag. v. 441 Vahl.; Varr. Atac. ap. Charis. p. 70; Cic. Div. 2, 30, 65; Prop. 4, 4, 40; Ov. H. 9, 94; id. Am. 3, 6, 14; id. M. 10, 349; 15, 390; Sen. Herc. Fur. 793; Stat. Th. 4, 85; cf. Neue, Formenl. I. p. 218), m. and f.; cf. Charis. p. 70 P.; Rudd. I. p. 25; Neue, Formenl. I. p. 612 [cf. ἔγχελυς; Lith. angis; old Germ. unc = adder; ἔχις; ἔχιδνα = adder; Sanscr. ahis; Germ. Aal = Engl. eel. Curtius], a serpent, a snake (syn.: serpens, coluber, draco).

  1. I. Lit.: angues jugati, Naev. ap. Non. p. 191, 18; Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 56: emissio feminae anguis … maris anguis, Cic. Div. 2, 29: vertatur Cadmus in anguem, Hor. A. P. 187 al.
    As fem.: caerulea, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28: angues volucres vento invectae, Cic. N. D. 1, 36: torta, Varr. Atac. ap. Non. p. 191, 22; Tac. A. 11, 11 al.
    Masc.: domi vectem circumjectus, Cic. Div. 2, 28: ater, Prop. 3, 5, 40: tortus, Ov. M. 4, 483, and id. Ib. 4, 79; Stat. Th. 4, 485.
    Sometimes serpent, snake, as a hateful, odious object: odisse aliquem aeque atque angues, Plaut. Merc. 4, 4, 21: cane pejus et angui, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 30.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. In fable, an emblem.
      1. 1. Of terror; hence the snaky head of Medusa, Ov. M. 4, 803.
      2. 2. Of rage; hence the serpent-girdle of Tisiphone, Ov. M. 4, 483 and 511; her hair of snakes, Tib. 1, 3, 69; Prop. 3, 5, 40.
      3. 3. Of art and wisdom; hence the serpent-team of Medea, Ov. M. 7, 223, and of the inventive Ceres, id. ib. 5, 642; cf. Voss, Mythol. Br. 2, 55.
    2. B. As a constellation.
      1. 1. = draco, the Dragon, between the Great and the Little Bear, Hyg. Astr. 2, 3; 3, 2: flexu sinuoso elabitur Anguis, Verg. G. 1, 244: neu te tortum declinet ad Anguem, Ov. M. 2, 138.
      2. 2. = hydra, the Hydra, water-serpent, which extends over the constellations Cancer, Leo, and Virgo, carries on its back the Crater, and on its tail the Corvus, Ov. F. 2, 243; Manil. 1, 422; cf. Hyg. Astr. 3, 39.
      3. 3. The Serpent, which Anguitenens (Ὀφιοῦχος) carries in his hand, Ov. M. 8, 182.
    3. C. Prov.: Latet anguis in herbā, there’s a snake in the grass, of some concealed danger, Verg. E. 3, 93.