Lewis & Short

† scaenĭcus (scen-), a, um, adj., = σκηνικός, of or belonging to the stage, scenic, dramatic, theatrical (class.).

  1. I. Lit.: poëtae, dramatic poets, Varr. L. L. 9, § 17 Müll.: artifices, players, actors, Cic. Arch. 5, 10; Suet. Caes. 84: actores, Quint. 6, 1, 26; 11, 3, 4: ludi, stage-plays, theatrical representations, in a gen. sense (opp. to games of wrestling, racing, etc.), Liv. 7, 2; 31, 4; 34, 54; Ter. Hec. prol. alt. 37; Suet. Calig. 26; id. Ner. 11; cf. operae (with gladiatoriae), id. Aug. 43: fabula, a drama, Amm. 28, 1, 4: organa, Suet. Ner. 44: coronae, id. ib. 53: habitus, id. ib. 38: gestus, Cic. de Or. 3, 59, 220: modulatio, Quint. 11, 3, 57: venustas, Cic. de Or. 3, 8, 30: decor quidam, Quint. 2, 10, 13: dicacitas (with scurrilis), id. 6, 3, 29: fortuna dubia, Ter. Hec. prol. alt. 8: adulteria, represented on the stage, Ov. Tr. 2, 514.
    In the neutr.: quin etiam, quod est inprimis frivolum ac scaenicum, verbum petant (declamatores), quo incipiant, Quint. 10, 7, 21: nihil scaenicum apud Graecos pudori est, Liv. 24, 24; cf., with a subject-clause: complodere manus scaenicum est et pectus caedere, Quint. 11, 3, 123.
    1. B. Substt.
      1. 1. scaē-nĭcus, i, m., a player, actor, Cic. Off. 1, 31, 114: orator plurimum aberit a scaenico (with comoedi), Quint. 1, 11, 3; Suet. Ner. 42 fin.
        Plur., Cic. Planc. 12, 30; id. Verr. 2, 3, 79, § 184; Quint. 11, 3, 158; Suet. Tib. 34; id. Ner. 11; 21 et saep.
        As a term of reproach applied to Nero (on account of his passion for the stage), a stage-hero, Tac. A. 15, 59.
      2. 2. scaenĭca, ae, f., a female player, an actress, Cod. Just. 5, 27, 1; Ambros. Obit. Valent. § 17.
  2. * II. Transf. (opp. to real, true, actual), fictitious, pretended: populus Romanus, invictus a veris regibus, ab illo imaginario et scaenico rege (sc. Andrisco) superatur, by that theatrical king, Flor. 2, 14, 4.
    * Adv.: scaenĭcē, theatrically, after the manner of players: cum aliqua velut scaenice fiunt, Quint. 6, 1, 38.