Lewis & Short

† schēma, ae, f. (cf.: diadema, dogma, etc., Prisc. p. 679 P.), and (mostly post-Aug.) ătis, n. (dat. and abl. plur. schemasin, Varr. ap. Charis. p. 38; but schematibus, Lampr. Heliog. 19), = σχῆμα.

  1. I. In gen., a shape, figure, form, fashion, manner, posture, attitude, etc. (so mostly ante-class.; not in Cic.).
          1. (α) Fem.: quod processi huc cum servili schemā, Plaut. Am. prol. 117; cf. Caecil. ap. Prisc. p. 679 P.: Tiara ut lepidam lepide condecorat schemam, Plaut. Pers. 4, 2, 2 Ritschl; cf. Prisc. l. l.; also Pompon. ap. Non. 225, 1: exemplar imperatae schemae, Suet. Tib. 43.
          2. (β) Neutr.: pergite thyrsigerae Bacchae modo Bacchico cum schemate, Naev. ap. Non. 225, 2: schema antiquom retinere, Lucil. ib. 225, 3: Aristippus naufragio cum ejectus ad Rhodiensium litus animadvertisset geometrica schemata descripta, Vitr. 6 praef.: vasa schematibus libidinosissimis inquinata, Lampr. Heliog. 19.
  2. II. In partic., as in rhet., a figure of speech, rhetorical figure (pure Lat. figura; freq. in Quint.; in Cic. written as Greek), Sen. Contr. 1, praef. § 23 sq.; 1, 1, 25; Quint. 9, 1, 1 sq.; and repeatedly in the first three chapters of the ninth book; cf. also id. 1, 5, 52 sq.; 4, 1, 49; 4, 5, 4; 5, 10, 70.
        1. b. In geometry, a figure, outline: geometrica schemata, Vitr. 6, praef. 1: sphaeroides, id. 8, 6, 3 et saep.