Lewis & Short

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fămŭla, ae, f., v. 1. famulus, II.

fămŭlo, āre, v. a. [famulus], to use as a servant, to make serviceable (post-class.): elementa ipsa (Christus), Tert. Apol. 21.

1. fămŭlus, i (an archaic form famul, Enn. ap. Non. 110, 9; Lucr. 3, 1035 (al. 1048); for which cf. in the Oscan ‡ famel: famuli origo ab Oscis dependet, apud quos servus famel nominabatur, unde et familia vocata, Paul. ex Fest. p. 87, 5 Müll.), m., and fămŭla, ae (gen. plur.: famulum, Stat. S. 3, 4, 57; Val. Fl. 1, 752; 3, 20; 282) f. [Sanscr. root dhā, to lay, found; Gr. τί-θη-μι; Osc. faama, house, v. Curt. Gr. Etym. p. 254; cf. Corss. Ausspr. 1, 183], a servant, attendant; a maid-servant, handmaid (class.).

  1. I. Masc.: iis, qui vi oppressos imperio coërcent, sit sane adhibenda saevitia, ut heris in famulos, Cic. Off. 2, 7, 24; Enn. ap. Fest. p. 229 Müll. (Ann. v. 157 ed. Vahl.); Plaut. As. 1, 3, 32; id. Mil. 2, 3, 80; id. Stich. 2, 2, 71; Cic. Lael. 15, 55; id. Tusc. 2, 21, 48; id. Rep. 2, 21; Verg. A. 1, 701; Hor. C. 3, 17, 16; Ov. H. 20, 79 et saep.: Idaeae matris famuli, Cic. Leg. 2, 9, 21: sacrorum, Ov. M. 3, 574: dei alumni (Silenus), Hor. A. P. 239: sus erat infestae famulus vindexque Dianae, Ov. M. 8, 272; cf. Verg. A. 5, 95; of Actaeon’s hounds, Ov. M. 3, 229; Vulg. Gen. 41, 12.
  2. II. Fem.: quam famulae longe fugitant furtimque cachinnant, Lucr. 4, 1176; Verg. A. 1, 703; 4, 391; Juv. 14, 81 al.: si virtus famula fortunae est, Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 2: res familiaris, quae est ministra et famula corporis, id. ib. 1, 31, 75; Vulg. Gen. 12, 16.

2. fămŭlus, a, um, adj. [1. famulus], serving, serviceable, servile (poet.; perh. not ante-Aug.): aquae, Ov. F. 1, 286: turbae, Sil. 13, 360: dextrae, Luc. 4, 207: manus, Sil. 10, 647: artus, Val. Fl. 1, 749: vertex, Ov. Pont. 2, 2, 80: catenae, Claud. in Ruf. 2, 386: ripae, id. III. Cons. Hon. 203.