Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

clāvis (clāves, acc. to Pompon. Comment. p. 459), is, f. (acc. commonly clavem, clavim, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 78; Tib. 2, 4, 31; cf. Paul ex Fest. p. 56 Müll.;

  1. I. Don. p. 1750 P., Charis. p. 101 ib.; abl. clavi and clave: clavi, Varr. R. R. 1, 22 fin., App. M. 1, 14, p. 108; Dig. 48, 8, 1, § 3; Serv. ad Verg. A. 10, 252; cf. Charis. l. l.: clave, Juv. 15, 158; App. M. 9, 20, p. 226; Dig. 21, 1, 17, § 15; cf. Neue, Formenl. 1, 199) [root klu-, v. claudo], a key: clavim cedo, Plaut Most. 2, 1, 78: clavem abduxi, id. Cas. 5, 2, 7: omnis horreorum clavis tradidisti, Cic. Dom. 10, 25: alias clavis portis imposuit, Liv. 27, 24, 8: unā portarum clave teneri, Juv. 15, 158: aptare claves foribus, Mart. 9, 47, 2: adulterinae portarum, false keys, Sall. J 12, 3; cf.: clavis adultera, Ov. A. A. 3, 643: sub clavi esse, to be shut up, Varr. R. R. 1, 22 fin.; cf.: Caecuba Servata centum clavibus, Hor C. 2, 14, 26: claves tradere, as an indication of the delivering up of the household (for possession or oversight), Dig. 18, 1, 74; 31, 77, § 21: claves adimere uxori, to separate from her, Cic. Phil. 2, 28, 69: Laconica, a peculiar key with several wards, used only for fastening from the outside, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 57 Lorenz ad loc.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. Clavis trochi, an instrument in the form of a key, by which a top was set in motion, Prop. 3 (4), 14, 6.
    2. * B. Clavis torculari, a lerer, bar (French, clef), Cato, R. R. 13, 1 Schneid. N. cr., and Comm. p. 57.