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.

esca, ae (gen. sing. escas, Liv. Andron. ap. Prisc. p. 679 P.), f. [for edca, v. esco, and edo; cf. Varr. L. L. 6, § 84 Müll.], food, both of men and beasts (class.; cf.: victus, cibus, cibaria, alimenta, edulia, opsonium, pulmentum; epulae, daps, etc.).

  1. I. In gen.
    1. A. Lit.: dii nec escis aut potionibus vescuntur, Cic. N. D. 2, 28; id. Div. 1, 51; id. Fin. 2, 28; Plaut. Men. 1, 1, 12; id. Most. 3, 2, 2; id. Mil. 2, 6, 98; Verg. G. 4, 17; Hor. S. 2, 2, 72 et saep.
      In plur., Plaut. Cas. 2, 8, 56; id. Men. 3, 1, 10; id. Ps. 3, 2, 41; id. Truc. 2, 7, 48; Verg. A. 12, 475; Plin. 9, 47, 71, § 154.
    2. B. Trop.: tun’ vetule, auriculis alienis colligis escas? Pers. 1, 22.
  2. II. In partic., bait for catching animals.
      1. 1. Lit., Plaut. As. 1, 3, 68; Mart. 4, 56; Petr. 3 fin.
      2. 2. Trop.: divine Plato escam malorum appellat voluptatem, Cic. de Sen. 13, 44.