armĭfer, fĕra, fĕrum, adj. [arma-fero], bearing weapons, armed, warlike (perh. first used by Ov.; for the distinction between it and armiger, v. armiger, II.).
- I. Lit., as an epithet of Mars and Minerva: armifer armiferae correptus amore Minervae, Ov. F. 3, 681: me armiferae servatum cura Minervae eripuit, id. M. 14, 475: Leleges, id. ib. 9, 645: gentes, Sil. 4, 45: labores, labors of war, warfare, Stat. S. 1, 2, 96: irae, id. Th. 6, 831.
- II. Transf.: arvum, the field in Colchis, sowed with dragons’ teeth, from which armed men sprang up, Sen. Med. 469 (for which armigera humus in Prop. 4, 10, 10, and armiger sulcus in Claud. I. Cons. Stil. 324; v. armiger, I. fin.).