Lewis & Short

† 1. aula, ae, f. (gen. aulāī, Verg. A. 3, 354; v. Neue, Formenl I. p 11), = αὐλή

  1. I. Lit., the front court of a Grecian house (mostly poet.; syn. atrium): janitor aulae, i. e. Cerberus, Hor C. 3, 11, 16; also a court for the cattle (cf. αὐλη; Serv ad Verg. A. 9, 60): vacuam pastoris in aulam, Prop 4, 12, 39; so Hor. Ep 1, 2, 66; Petr. 119; Grat. Cyn. 167.
    Also an inner court of a house, a hall, = atrium, Verg. A. 3, 354 lectus genialis in aulā est, Hor Ep 1, 1, 87
  2. II. Transf
      1. 1. A palace, the castle of a noble, the royal court (syn.. regia, palatium, basilica): illā se jactet in aulā Aeolus. Verg. A. 1, 140 (cf. Hom. Od 10, 1 sq.) fuscae deus aulae, i. e. Pluto, Prop. 5, 11, 5; cf. Hor. C. 2, 18, 31: laeta Priami aula, id. ib. 4, 6, 16; 4, 14, 36 al.: rarissimam rem in aulā consequi senectutem, in a court, Sen. Ira, 2, 33; cf.: caret invidendā Sobrius aulā, Hor. C. 2, 10, 8.
        Poet., of the cell of the queen-bee: aulas et cerea regna refingunt, Verg G. 4, 202.
      2. 2. Meton.
        1. a. Princely power, dignity: rex omniauctoritate aulae communita imperium cum dignitate obtinuit, Cic. Fam. 15, 4 qui tum aulā et novo rege potiebatur, i. e. possessed the highest influence at court, Tac. A. 6, 43.
        2. b. The persons belonging to the court, the court, courtiers: prona in eum aula Neronis (erat) ut similem, Tac. H. 1, 13 fin.: tum Claudius inter ludibria aulae erat, Suet. Ner. 6.