Lewis & Short

annōna, ae, f. [from annus, as pomona from pomum]. In gen., the yearly produce, the annual income of natural products, in the widest sense (cf.: cibaria annua, Cato, R. R. 60): vectigal novum ex salariā annonā, Liv. 29, 37: lactis, Col. 8, 17, 13: musti, id. 3, 21, 6; 3, 3, 10.

  • II. Esp.
    1. A. Means of subsistence, and, for the most part, corn or grain: annona nisi in calamitate pretium non habet, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 98: vilitas annonae ex summā inopiā et caritate rei frumentariae consecuta est, id. Imp. Pomp. 15, 44: uberrimus ager ad varietates annonae horreum populi Romani fore videbatur, Liv. 7, 31: clausis annonae subsidiis, Tac. H. 3, 48 fin.: provincia annonae fecunda, id. ib. 1, 11; cf. Suet. Aug. 18: annonae curam agere, id. Claud. 18; cf. id. Tib. 8: praebebant annonam regi, Vulg. 3 Reg. 4, 7; ib. 4 Reg. 25, 30; ib. Dan. 1, 5 al.
      Sometimes contrasted with frumentum, as provisions in gen.: copia frumenti et annona tolerabilis rerum aliarum, a supply, Liv 35, 44.
  • B.
    1. 1. Meton., the price of grain or other food: quom cara annona sit, Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 35; id. Stich. 1, 3, 25; Ter. And. 4, 4, 7; Cic. Div. 2, 27 fin.: annona est gravis, Plaut. Stich. 4, 2, 53; so Suet. Aug. 25: incendere annonam, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 16: jam ad denarios quinquaginta in singulos modios annona pervenerat, Caes. B. C. 1, 52: nihil mutavit annona, Liv. 5, 12 (cf. id. 2, 34: annona vetus): annona acris, Tac. A. 4, 6: gravitas annonae, id. ib. 6, 13: in annonae difficultatibus, Suet. Aug. 41: annona macelli, id. Tib. 34.
      1. 2. Trop., the prices, the market: Qui homines probi essent, esset īs annona vilior, Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 140: Vilis amicorum est annona, bonis ubi quid deest, cheap indeed is the market of friendship, Hor. Ep. 1, 12, 24: his opibus numquam cara est annona veneni, Juv. 9, 100.
        Hence sometimes,
    2. C. Dearness: cena hac annonā est sine sacris hereditas, at the present (i. e. high) market-price, at the present dear rate, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 83: ob annonae causam, Cic. Dom. 5.
    3. D. In milit. lang., provisions, supplies: necessitas annonam pariter et arma portandi, Veg. Mil. 1, 19: annona decem et septem dierum, Amm. 17, 9.
      Hence, meton., the loaves of bread them selves, rations (in this sense only in the plur.): ceteri annonas binas aut ternas accipiebant, Lampr. Alex. Sev. 42; cf. Cod. Th. 7,5.
    4. E. Personified, the goddess of the yearly produce: ANNONAE SANCTAE AELIVS VITALIO, etc., Inscr. Orell. 1810.