Lewis & Short

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arca, ae, f. [arceo: arca et arx quasi res secretae, a quibus omnes arceantur, Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 262; v. arceo], a place for keeping any thing, a chest, box.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: arca vestiaria, Cato, R. R. 11, 3: ex illā oleā arcam esse factam eoque conditas sortes, Cic. Div. 2, 41, 86; Suet. Tib. 63: arca ingens variorum venenorum plena, id. Calig. 59 al.
      Very freq.,
    2. B. Esp.,
      1. 1. A box for money, a safe, a coffer, and particularly of the rich, and loculi was their purse, porte-monnaie, while sacculus was the pouch of the poor, Juv. 1, 89 sq.; 11, 26; cf. id. 10, 25; 14, 259 Ruperti, and Cat. 13, 8; Varr. L. L. 5, § 182 Müll.: populus me sibilat: at mihi plaudo Ipse domi, simul ac nummos contemplor in arcā, Hor. S. 1, 1, 67.
        Hence, meton., like our purse, for the money in it: arcae nostrae confidito, rely upon my purse, Cic. Att. 1, 9; id. ad Q. Fr. 2, 12; id. Par. 6, 1; Cat. 23, 1; Col. 3, 3, 5; 8, 8, 9; Plin. Ep. 3, 19, 8; Sen. Ep. 26 fin.
        Hence, ex arcā absolvere aliquem, to pay in cash upon the spot (opp. de mensae scripturā absolvere), Ter. Ad. 2, 4, 13 Don.; cf. id. Phorm. 5, 7, 29 Don., and arcarius.
        And of public money, state treasure, revenues (late Lat.): frumentaria, Dig. 50, 4, 1, § 2: vinaria, Symm. Ep. 10, 42 al.
      2. 2. A coffin (cf. Smith, Dict. Antiq.), Liv. 40, 29; cf. Plin. 13, 13, 27, § 85; Val. Max. 1, 1: cadavera Conservus vili portanda locabat in arcā, Hor. S. 1, 8, 9; Luc. 8, 736; Dig. 11, 7; Inscr. Orell. 3560; 4429.
  2. II. Transf. Of any thing in the form of a box or chest.
    1. A. Noah’s ark (eccl. Lat.), Vulg. Gen. 6, 14 sqq.; ib. Matt. 24, 38; ib. Heb. 11, 7 al.
    2. B. In Jewish antiq., the Ark of the Covenant (eccl. Lat.): arca foederis, Vulg. Deut. 10, 8: arca foederis Domini, ib. Num. 10, 33: arca testimonii, ib. Exod. 26, 34: arca testamenti, ib. Heb. 9, 4: arca testamenti Dei, ib. Jer. 3, 16: arca Domini, ib. Jos. 4, 4: arca Dei, ib. 1 Reg. 11, 17; and absol.: arca, ib. Exod. 30, 6; ib. Deut. 10, 5.
    3. C. A small, close prison, a cell: (Servi) in arcas coniciuntur, ne quis cum iis colloqui possit, Cic. Mil. 22 fin.; cf. Fest. p. 264 Müll.
    4. D. In mechanics, the water-box of a hydraulic machine, Vitr. 10, 13.
    5. E. A watercistern, a reservoir, Vitr. 6, 3.
  3. F. A quadrangular landmark; cf. Scriptt. Agrim. pp. 119, 222, 223, 271 Goes.