pōmērĭum and pōmoerĭum (the first is most freq. in inscrr., the latter in MSS.; but the better manuscripts have also, Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 13, and Tac. A. 12, 23 and 24, pomerium. A third form, post-moerium, Varr. L. L. 5, § 143 Müll., seems merely to have been assumed from the etymology; a fourth archaic form is posi-merium, pontificale pomoerium, qui auspicato olim quidem omnem urbem ambiebat praeter Aventinum … estque prosimerium quasi proxi-murium, pontifices auspicabantur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 248 Müll.), ĭi, n. [post-moerus = murus].
- I. Lit., the open space left free from buildings within and without the walls of a town, bounded by stones (cippi or termini), and limiting the city auspices, Varr. L. L. 5, § 143 Müll.; Liv. 1, 44; Gell. 13, 14, 6; 15, 27, 4; Tac. A. 12, 23 and 24: POMERIVM, Inscr. (746 A. U. C.) Orell. 1; Inscr. Grut. 242 (Orell. 1, p. 567); Inscr. Orell. 710; Inscr. (A. D. 121) Orell. 811: pomoerium intrare, transire, Cic. N. D. 2, 4, 11: de pomoerii jure, id. Div. 2, 35, 75: sales intra pomeria nati, i. e. of the city, Juv. 9, 11.
- II. Trop., bounds, limits (ante- and post-class.): qui minore pomerio finierunt, who have prescribed narrower limits to themselves, Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 13; Macr. S. 1, 24.