† nĕmus, ŏris, n. [root nem-, distribute; Gr. νέμω, νομός; cf. νέμος, pasturage, and Lat. Numa, numerus], = νέμος, a wood with open glades and meadows for cattle, a wood with much pasture-land, a grove; poet., a wood in gen. (cf.: saltus, silva, lucus).
- I. Lit.: cras foliis nemus Multis tempestas Sternet, Hor. C. 3, 17, 9: multos nemora silvaeque commovent, Cic. Div. 1, 50, 114: in nemore Pelio, Enn. ap. Auct. Her. 2, 22, 34 (Trag. v. 280 Vahl.): montium custos nemorumque (Diana), Hor. C. 3, 22, 1: gelidum, id. ib. 1, 1, 30: nemorum saltus, Verg. E. 6, 56: nemus arboribus densum, Ov. F. 6, 9: nemorum avia, id. M. 1, 479: nemora in domibus sacros imitantia lucos, Tib. 3, 3, 15: sacri fontis nemus, Juv. 3, 17.
- B. In partic., a heath or grove consecrated to a divinity: Angitiae nemus, Verg. A. 7, 759.
Also alone: Nĕmus, the sacred grove of Diana at Aricia, where Cæsar had a villa, Cic. Att. 15, 4, 5; cf.: tabulam pictam in nemore Dianae posuit, Plin. 35, 7, 33, § 52; v. nemorensis, II. B.
- II. Poet. transf., a tree: nemora alta, Luc. 1, 453; Mart. 9, 62, 9; cf. Verg. G. 2, 401.
Also, wood: strictum acervans nemore congesto aggerem, Sen. Herc. Fur. 1216.