vĕnēfĭcĭum, ii, n. [veneficus].
- I. A poisoning: de veneficiis accusare, Cic. Rosc. Am. 32, 90: qui tuis veneficiis remedia invenit, id. Phil. 13, 11, 25; id. Clu. 1, 1 sq.; Liv. 8, 18, 11; Val. Max. 2, 5, 3; Quint. 5, 7, 37; 5, 9, 11; 7, 3, 7: venefici damnari, Tac. A. 12, 66: deferre aliquem venefici reum, Plin. Ep. 7, 6, 8 al.
- II. The preparation of magic potions, magic, sorcery: subito totam causam oblitus est: idque veneficiis et cantionibus Titiniae factum esse dicebat, Cic. Brut. 60, 217; cf.: quosque veneficiis abstulit illa (Medea) suis, Ov. H. 6, 150; Plin. 18, 6, 8, § 41 sq.; 25, 2, 5, § 10; Petr. 128.