Lewis & Short

līmĕs, ĭtis, m. [root in līmus; cf. limen, and Gr. λέχρις; cf. Just. Inst. 1, 12, 5], a cross-path, balk between fields.

  1. I. Lit., the Romans usually had in their fields two broad and two narrower paths; the principal balk from east to west was called limes decumanus; that from north to south was called cardo; of the two smaller ones, that running from east to west was called prorus, the other, from north to south, transversus, Hyg. de Limit. Const. 18, 33 and 34; Col. 1, 8, 7: lutosi limites, Varr. R. R. 2, 4, 8.
    1. B. Transf. (mostly poet.).
      1. 1. A boundary, limit between two fields or estates, consisting of a stone or a balk: partiri limite campum, Verg. G. 1, 126: saxum antiquum, ingens, campo quod forte jacebat, Limes agro positus, litem ut discerneret arvis, id. A. 12, 897: effodit medio de limite saxum, Juv. 16, 38.
      2. 2. A fortified boundaryline, a boundary-wall: cuncta inter castellum Alisonem ac Rhenum novis limitibus aggeribusque permunita, Tac. A. 2, 7: limite acto promotisque praesidiis, id. G. 29: penetrat interius, aperit limites, Vell. 2, 120.
      3. 3. In gen., any path, passage, road, way; also, by-street, by-road: eo limite Athenienses signa extulerunt, Liv. 31, 39: profectus inde transversis limitibus, id. ib.: lato te limite ducam, Verg. A. 9, 323: acclivis, Ov. M. 2, 19: limite recto fugere, id. ib. 7, 782: transversi, by-roads, Liv. 22, 12, 2 Fabr.; 31, 39, 5; 41, 14 init.: limes Appiae, the line of the Appian street (for the street itself), id. 22, 15, 11: limite acto (i. e. facto), Tac. G. 29.
        Of the channel of a stream: solito dum flumina currant Limite, Ov. M. 8, 558; Prop. 5, 9, 60.
        Of the track of light left behind them by comets, fiery meteors, torches, etc.: flammiferumque trahens spatioso limite crinem, Stella micat, Ov. M. 15, 849: tum longo limite sulcus Dat lucem, Verg. A. 2, 697; Plin. 2, 26, 25, § 96: sectus in obliquo est lato curvamine limes, the zodiac, Ov. M. 2, 130: latum per agmen Ardens limitem agit ferro, Verg. A. 10, 514; cf. Sil. 4, 463; 9, 379; Stat. Th. 9, 182.
      4. 4. A line or vein in a precious stone: nigram materiam distinguente limite albo, Plin. 37, 10, 69, § 184.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. A boundary, limit: limes carminis, Stat. Th. 1, 16: aestuat infelix angusto limite mundi, Juv. 10, 169.
    2. B. A distinction, difference: judicium brevi limite falle tuum, Ov. R. Am. 325: quaedam perquam tenui limite dividuntur, Quint. 9, 1, 3.
    3. C. A way, path: si maledicitis vostro gradiar limite, Plaut. Poen. 3, 3, 18: bene meritis de patria quasi limes ad caeli aditum patet, Cic. Somn. Scip. 8; Sen. Ben. 1, 15, 2: eundem limitem agere, to go the same way, employ the same means, Ov. A. A. 3, 558.