nūmen, ĭnis, n. [for nuimen, root nu-; Gr. νεύω, nod; Lat. nuo in re-nuo, etc], prop., a nodding with the head, a nod: numen quasi nutus dei ac potestas dicitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 173 Müll.
Hence, trop., a nod, i. e. command, will.
- * I. In gen.: ad numen mentis momenque moveri, Lucr. 3, 144 (but id. 2, 632, and 4, 179, the correct reading is momine, v. Lachm.).
- II. In partic., the divine will, the will or power of the gods, divine sway (the class. signif. of the word): numen dicunt esse imperium, dictum ab nutu: numina sunt, quojus imperium maximum esse videatur, Varr. L. L. 7, § 85 Müll.: deo, cujus numini parent omnia, Cic. Div. 1, 53, 120: multa saepe prodigia vim ejus (Cereris) numenque declarant, id. Verr. 2, 4, 49, § 107: di inmortales suo numine atque auxilio sua templa atque urbis tecta defendunt, id. Cat. 2, 13, 29: numen interdictumque deorum immortalium, id. Pis. 21, 48: nox et Diana, Nunc, nunc adeste, nunc in hostiles domos Iram atque numen vertite, Hor. Epod. 5, 54.
To Fortune: nullum numen abest, si sit prudentia, Juv. 10, 365.
Hence, transf., of the will, might, authority of powerful persons: flectere tenta Caesareum numen, numine, Bacche, tuo, Ov. Tr. 5, 3, 45; cf. id. P. 4, 13, 24: annuite, Patres Conscripti, nutum numenque vestrum invictum Campanis, Liv. 7, 30; cf.: quanta potestas, quanta majestas, quantum denique numen, sit historiae, Plin. Ep. 9, 27, 1.
- B. Godhead, divinity, deity, divine majesty, etc.: numina Palladis, Verg. A. 3, 543: per Dianae numina, Hor. Epod. 17, 3: venerantur numina nymphae, Mygdonidesque nurus, Ov. M. 6, 44: audis … positas ut glaciet nives Puro numine Juppiter, Hor. C. 3, 10, 8.
Concr., a divinity, deity, a god, goddess: caeleste numen, Liv. 1, 21, 1; Val. Max. 2, 4, 4; 5, 1, 3; Amm. 19, 1, 4: summum, Sen. Q. N. 7, 30, 4; Amm. 15, 8, 9; 17, 7, 3 al.: templa et effigies numinum, Tac. A. 1, 10; 1, 73; 3, 71; 15, 45; Suet. Calig. 22: nos magna precati Numina, Verg. A. 3, 634: si quem Numina laeva sinunt, id. G. 4, 7: promissaque numine firmat, i. e. by calling a god to witness, by an oath, Ov. M. 10, 430: vadimus immixti haud numine nostro, the divinity not with us, Verg. A. 2, 396, cf. sqq.: hospes numinis Idaei, Juv. 3, 138: in contumeliam numinum, Plin. Pan. 11: Titus numinibus aequatus est, id. ib. 35: numinis loco habere, Tac. G. 8: numina quibus sacrificabat, Val. Max. 5, 10, ext. 2: ea numina, i. e. Apollo and Diana, Tac. A. 3, 61; Plin. 4, 7, 12, § 25; 18, 13, 35, § 132.
Of the manes of a beloved person: juro per illos manes, numina mei doloris, Quint. 6 prooem. § 10 Spald.